New Mildenhall Town manager Dean Greygoose is hoping he can install the confidence needed to kick-start their season.

Greygoose was appointed as interim Hall boss last week, following the departure of Christian Appleford, and took charge for the first time against Thetford on Saturday – a result which saw Mildenhall on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.

David Cooper gave Hall the lead, but Thetford turned the scoreboard around to take all the points as Mildenhall slumped to 15th in the table, just six points clear of the bottom three.

Of the game, Greygoose, who was in charge of fellow Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Haverhill Rovers earlier this season, said: “I enjoyed the day, not the result.

“I didn’t get the performance I was hoping for, and I think the boys are lacking a bit of confidence at the minute.

“In spells we played some good football, and showed glimpses of what we’re capable of, but it wasn’t enough.

“We hit the post twice and had one cleared off the line, but didn’t play anywhere near to the levels that I expected.”

Greygoose has no doubt inherited a talented squad at Mildenhall from predecessor Appleford, but a bad run of results has seen them slip further and further down the league table.

The former Football League goalkeeper, who played more than 200 league games for Crewe Alexandra, as well as achieving vast success with Suffolk non-league side AFC Sudbury, accepts that it may take him a little while to get the right balance in his new challenge.

“There are no magic wands in football,” Greygoose added.

“You get places by working hard, and making your own luck.

“There’s loads of little things that need improving, but bit by bit, I’ll look to get the players’ confidence back.

“The squad I’ve got do have lots of ability, but I will be looking to bring a few new faces in.

“No-one will come in unless it’s absolutely necessary and they’ll have to fight for their place, but I do need one or two to add some balance to the side.”

Greygoose continued: “It is up to the players here to show that they can fit in.

“To be fair, I haven’t seen many of the players in action, and everyone will get a chance to show what they can do in the next couple of weeks.”

Overseeing the bigger picture in terms of overall aims this season, Greygoose added: “You have to be realistic.

“Looking at the table and the squad I’ve got, we shouldn’t be down there, but we are.

“It is too easy to get into a momentum of losing, and it is hard to then turn that into a winning momentum.

“I know the squad can play, it’s just about giving them the confidence to allow them to do so.

“My short term aim is to get my first win as Mildenhall boss under my belt, and then see where we go from there.

“Long term? I’d love to turn Mildenhall into a force again.”

The west Suffolk side have a tough couple of weeks coming up, starting on Saturday against 10th-placed Ipswich Wanderers.

“Wanderers have a good mix of youth and experience, and are a side who have a lot of confidence at the minute,” added Greygoose.

“We’ll go there with a positive attitude though. We might go into it slightly more conservative, but I can’t wait for it, and nor should the squad, you should look forward to every game no matter who you play.”

Mildenhall also visit Greygoose’s former employees AFC Sudbury in Suffolk Premier Cup action later this month in what promises to be an emotional return for a manager who spent two-and-a-half happy years at the Yellows, playing his final game for the club in the 2005 FA Vase 3-2 final defeat against Didcot Town at White Hart Lane.

“I had some great times at Sudbury, and it will be nice to back there as manager, ” Greygoose admitted.