NEW Hereford FC boss Russell Slade is targeting a "minimum requirement of the play-offs".

Slade has taken over from head coach Marc Richards who was sacked earlier this month by the National League North club.

The 58-year-old has a wealth of experience under his belt including two years at Cardiff City in the Championship.

But he has not managed since February last year when he was axed following 10 months of his second spell in charge of League Two side Grimsby Town.

Slade was introduced to the Bulls squad at Thursday night’s training session ahead of Saturday's home league game with Boston United (3pm).

He said: “We’ll get on with business straightaway. Obviously we’ve got a very important game against Boston.

"My ambition wasn’t to come here and sit around mid-table.

"Our ambition will be a minimum requirement of the play-offs, that’s what we’re trying to achieve.

“If we can get anything better than that then so be it, bring it on.

"I’m looking forward to that and it’s nice actually because in my career very often I’ve gone into a club that’s been struggling at the bottom.

“I’ve had to create a group of players that are capable of challenging and getting to play-off finals but on this occasion we’ve got a team, a nucleus of the squad that have got ability. There’s some talent in there.

“Just give them a little bit of help, a little bit of tweaking here and there and we might have something to go forward with.”

Wokingham-born Slade started out as a PE teacher before becoming assistant manager at Notts County.

His first permanent managerial post was at then top-flight non-league side Scarborough in 2001.

Slade went on to take charge of Yeovil Town, Brighton, Leyton Orient, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City as well as Cardiff and his two spells with Grimsby.

On the period since leaving the Mariners, Slade said: “I’ve given myself a bit of a break this time before going back into football.

"I haven’t had too many breaks and I’ve been in the game for about 850 games.

“I probably needed that break if I’m honest because I’ve not really had one. Now I’m very eager to get started.

“I’ll be there on Saturday. I’ll be in the dugout with Tim (Harris, head of footbal and interim manager) so I’m looking forward to the very first game.

“I’ve met the players so we’re ready. I'm looking forward to see what they can do.”

Hereford slipped to eighth with Monday's 4-1 beating at Chester but return to Edgar Street to take on Boston in 13th.

Experienced skipper Josh Gowling said: “Despite Monday’s result we’ve had a pretty good start to the season overall.

“There’s plenty of quality within the squad and having seen so many new faces come in over the summer we’re knitting together all of the time.

“It’s important that we find the level of consistency that is needed to be up there challenging.

"We’ve worked hard in our preparation this week. The new gaffer has come in and hopefully we can get back to the levels that we know we are capable of.

“The ingredients are there for us. We’ve got to be professional and ensure we put the performances in.

“We know that it will be another tough test. Boston had a good win on Monday (5-0 at home to Altrincham) as they bounced back from a poor result in their previous game (3-0 loss at Gloucester City).

“They are a strong side at this level but we will go out there determined to right the wrongs of Monday and add to our points tally.”