Mitch Griffiths looks ahead to his new role as Grantham Town manager
A solid structure and laying the foundations to move forward will be the top priorities for new Grantham Town manager Mitch Griffiths.
Griffiths has taken the helm of the club this week in a new era for the Gingerbreads.
They also have a new chairman in Nick Johnston and a fresh board of directors as they look to bring stability to Town who were relegated from the Northern Premier League last season.
Griffiths said: "It is literally a fresh start with the new board and new chairman coming in.
"Nick and I have spoken for several hours and we've got a plan together which we're still adding to now.
"It is going to be a learning on the job kind of thing for both of us in the first year but we've got an idea of what we want the club to look like and the position we want to be in this time next year.
"For me, personally, on the playing side of things, it is a case of getting some structure and getting the foundations built first and foremost.
"It's the route that I'm going down with the players that I want to bring in.
"I want the squad to have structure and stability of players that I can trust and know that can get the job done.
"We can build up from there and I think that is where the club is at as well in terms of resetting and having a plan.
"This is the lowest that it will get and we will build up from now.
"We will set the foundations and move forward from there which aligns really well with my ambitions and what Nick wants for the club."
Griffiths made his first foray into management last season as co-boss of United Counties League Premier Division North side Newark Town.
He helped lead the Blues to a strong position in their first campaign as a step five club.
Working alongside Luke Parsons, the role whetted his appetite for management after a successful playing career.
Griffiths added: "I knew that I wanted to go into management after my last season at Lincoln United.
"I had a bit more of a senior role and the manager would speak to me regularly and ask my opinion on different things.
"I've had experience of an older player relationship with managers and, after I left Lincoln, I felt that I wanted to have more of an input and my voice listened to more.
"Although we didn't win anything at Newark last season, I felt like it went really well and it basically gave me the desire that I can improve people and get the best out of them.
"If that's what I've done with Newark then, without being disrespectful, what can I do with a bigger club like Grantham.
"You're unsure what you're going to get when you go into management and it can go one of two ways - you either hate it and realise you've made the wrong decision but it's gone the opposite way for me.
"It's given me that buzz that I want to go and be successful."
Griffiths admitted the lure of the Grantham job was too big too turn down despite their relegation to the United Counties League for next season.
He commented: "When I was offered the job, it was something that I couldn't turn down.
"It was too big of a club and an opportunity.
"Even in two or three years' time, or longer than that, I might not be offered an opportunity as big as this.
"It was a no-brainer."
Griffiths started his playing career with Boston United before spells with Deeping Rangers and Holbeach United.
He then went on to play for Spalding United, Lincoln United, Peterborough Sports and Sleaford Town and has spent a number of campaigns in the United Counties League which he hopes will bode well for next season.
Griffiths said: "It's probably my biggest strength.
"I've played in the United Counties League for a number of seasons and, the first people that I'm looking at bringing in, are relationships that I've built over the last five, 10 or 15 years.
"They are people I really trust who conduct themselves in the right way.
"They are winners and they've got the right mentality to give us those foundations to get the job done at this level.
Griffiths plans to register as a player with Grantham and will be appointing his backroom team in the near future.
He is also looking to strengthen the links within the community and create a pathway to the first team through the club's successful youth ranks.
He explained: "We had a Development team at Lincoln United and it really opened my eyes.
"We had four or five of them in with us from the start and it's a really good model to go off.
"It is one of the reasons that Lincoln has been successful and, although it can be a slow process, if you drip-feed lads in at the right times it can be a real positive.
"We want the community and the local players to see that there is a pathway to the first team.
"It's a big thing that both Nick and I have spoken about and we're going to work really hard to have that coming through.
"We will all work together to make it a community club."
Griffiths replaces ex-Lincoln City and Grimsby Town player Nathan Arnold at the Grantham helm after he stepped down with three matches of the season remaining.
The Gingerbreads were relegated to step five of the non-league pyramid last season after finishing at the foot of the Northern Premier League Midlands Division table.
