Daggers Are Sharp Again As Taylor Turns The Tide

The former Leicester City manager is preparing his side for the live BT Sport lunchtime assignment at Eastleigh on Saturday afternoon.

They head to the south coast struggling to picture the dark cloud that was hanging over them all just three short weeks ago.

Without a win and with the whole club’s future still unsecured, Taylor was probably wondering what he let himself in for!

But patience has paid off. Not only are the Daggers now flying, they are also in new ambitious hands.

An American consortium has taken over and fears turn to hope. The owners are keeping their powder dry on Taylor’s advice about what’s around the corner but ahead of the live match their manager has given a little more insight.

He told us: “A few weeks ago before it was all 100 per cent official we sat down and had a conversation.

“I said to them it would probably be a wise move to not make any bold statements. The starting point is that we are more stable now.

“Not so long ago this club really did have 12 months max. What’s going to happen next? We will have to wait and see.

“Look, even Barcelona couldn’t win this league from this position now! I don’t see the point in saying too much but what I will say is that they are in it for the long haul and that they are very ambitious.

“I’ve told them I have faith in these players and that they deserve a chance.”

Taylor’s right, over the past few weeks his young team have come of age.

A 0-0 draw against freescoring Salford was followed up by wins over Braintree and, dramatically, up at Barrow.

A 1-1 draw with Chesterfield last time our showed they have spirit as they get ready to lock horns with the Spitfires.

“I know how young we are and I also know young people will make wrong decisions,” he said.

“Before the last few weeks we were never outplayed - we were just out thought.

“What we are now seeing is this group maturing and learning. It’s great to see the progress so now we will see what Saturday brings.”

One thing it will bring, of course, is the spotlight.

Taylor added: “For the vast majority of our players this will be the first time they have ever been on TV. What an experience for them.

“I think BT Sport have been brilliant for the National League. I used to work with them offering my views on matchdays and I’m looking forward to giving my views again to them as a manager!”

Saturday will see the message of Prostate Cancer UK put out there for all to see and Taylor is fully behind what is happening - especially he Manarama rebrade in support of the charity.

"Their work across football has been hugely prominent in recent seasons and it’s great to see the grassroots game embracing this hugely important issue," he said.

"I’ve worked with the charity before and it was an honour to walk alongside Jeff Stelling during his epic Men United March in 2016. I met so many inspiring and incredible people that day and that reinforced just how much of a serious issue this disease is. That’s why I’m proud to wear their ‘Man of Men’ pin badge on the touchline.

One man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer. That’s simply unacceptable and is something we need to turn around, and I’m proud Dagenham & Redbridge and Eastleigh will play a prominent role promoting it on Saturday."