MANAGER Ashley Vincent launched an impassioned argument for Worcester City’s promotion credentials – and insists his belief is “not foolhardy”.

City sit 12th in the Midland Football League Premier Division ahead of welcoming Long Eaton United to the Victoria Ground tomorrow (3pm).

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Vincent’s men have lost half of their eight league matches to date but each of those defeats has come on the road against opponents currently in the top five – including Long Eaton.

This time last year Worcester had played 12 matches and sat second with 24 points while riding the wave of what turned out to be a 15-match unbeaten run.

But despite a trickier start to life in the top job, Vincent’s resolve remains undiminished.

“Everyone knows me, it is not like I am just fresh into the club,” said Vincent.

“I was also on the sidelines (as assistant manager to John Snape) when we went 15 games unbeaten and have a group of players that can do it.

“When you look back at last season Walsall Wood were nowhere near come the end of January, went on a run and just missed out on the title on goal difference on the last day.

“You will never get a defeatist attitude from me, I won’t wave the white flag and my teams play to win.

“Yes, I want to develop the really good young lads we have here but I am here to win games of football.

“In pre-season we naturally look across the season but once you’re in it, you look week to week, game by game and see where it takes you.

“I have a good side and maybe the position we are in might keep us under the radar, we might surprise a few.

“By no means do I change my ambitions, ever. That’s not my nature, I have always been part of groups, squads and under managers where it is not good enough to accept development or being mediocre.

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“I was fortunate enough to be in squads that won so I know what it takes, what you need in the dressing room to have winning people and winning sides.

“I pretty much have that. What I need is to get those big players on the pitch at the same time and get on a run.

“Yes, we do need to start winning games if we have any aspirations of being in the promotion shake-up at the end of the season but there isn’t anyone going up at the start of October.

“That’s what I have told my boys and that’s what I tell myself, and I am not foolhardy in saying that. I know what football is like, it changes by the day.

“I will never be part of a group that I don’t think can win games, that’s just not me and we will be hammering home the same messages that we are here to be successful, whatever that may mean come the end of the season.”