NEW St Albans City managers James Gray and Graham Golds believe their football philosophy can bring success to Clarence Park.

They are advocates of the passing game based on a solid defensive unit, strong midfield and creativity in the final third.

On Tuesday the pair, who had been in caretaker charge of the Saints after the sacking of David Howell in November, were officially confirmed as the men in charge.

Speaking to The Herts Advertiser, Gray revealed his first job is to keep players at the club following the well documented wage reduction.

“It’s early days and the aim at the moment is to keep as many of the players as possible,” he said.

“As soon as news of the budget cut got out the vultures started circling.”

The duo are already well known at the club as Gray is captain and, alongside Golds, ran the double winning City Midweek Youth side.

In their four games at the helm City have lost one and won three, including inflicting a first Evo-Stik League defeat of the season on Leamington and claiming a 3-1 away win at Bedworth United on Saturday.

These results, and impressive performances, put them to the forefront of the owners’ and interim chairman’s thoughts.

A change in formation helped City end a run of five league games without a win when they beat Leamington.

Golds said: “As soon as we got the job we changed the formation putting an extra man in midfield.

“We believe if you win the battle in midfield you have a good chance of winning the game.

“We put some confidence in the lads to get the ball down and play, they took to it really well from the first game.

“It’s the way we played with the youth side, when you get to the first team sometimes with the pressure to win the style of play goes out of the window, but we believe you can play the right way and get three points.”

Teenage players such as Matt Taylor and James Kaloczi have already taken steps from the youth set-up and appeared for the first team, with others well-known to Golds and Gray waiting in the wings.

“We have a crop of good youngsters that we have worked on at St Albans,” said Golds.

“I have worked with some of them since they were 12.

“Some of them have had a taste of the first team and have shown they are up to it.”

St Albans City entertain Banbury United on Saturday at Clarence Park, kick-off 3pm.