AFC TOTTON boss Steve Riley insists it will take a “master class” in management to keep the Stags in the Calor Southern Premier Division next season.

The Testwood Stadium club were in real danger of going under earlier this summer with debts of around £185,000, writes Peter Howard.

An interim executive committee is working tirelessly to save the club but, with skipper Carl Pettefer and 22-goal top scorer Richard Gillespie among the many players to leave, Riley is well aware of the struggle they face.

“If we stay in this league it will be a master class. I know the things we’ve got to try and do and we’re going to try our best to stay up,” he said.

“Some players, unfortunately for whatever reason, are going to struggle at this level and that’s not fair on them and not fair on the club and supporters.

“We’ve given a lot of players opportunities and it’s my job to get a good enough squad together ready to start the season and to make sure we take the right players to take on the challenge.”

Speaking after the Stags’ 3-1 pre-season defeat at Winchester City on Tuesday, where Riley fielded trialists such as centre back Dean Faithfull, midfielder Tiago Da Rocha Cardoso and goalkeeper Ali Pugi, the Totton boss thought his side could learn from the Sydenhams Premier side.

“We needed a game like that if I’m honest. Winchester City have good, experienced, physical, strong players,” he said. “They’ve got the sort of players that could play week in, week out at Southern Premier League level. “I might be a bit harsh on some of the players, but I said to them after the game: ‘that’s the sort of level you’ve got to be playing at week in, week out. You’ve got to get the basics right to start with and you’ve got to perform every week against strong sides like this.’” With less than a month to go before Totton lift the curtain on their league campaign against Stourbridge (August 17), Riley knows there is still a lot of work to do. “Some players aren’t fit enough yet, some players need to work on their match fitness really,” he said. “The young players in there are learning week in, week out, which is what pre-season is all about. “I’ll take a lot from the Winchester game.”

Next Tuesday Totton entertain Sholing in another pre-season clash. l Riley has organised a fund-raising 70s/80s disco at AFC Totton’s Testwood Stadum tomorrow (7pm) which includes a raffle, games with cash prizes and a finger buffet. Tickets are £10.