Danny Kedwell says managing in Covid times is presenting fresh problems in his fledgling managerial career.

The Cray Wanderers boss was left frustrated after losing four players to Covid in the days leading up to their FA Trophy clash with Dartford last weekend.

“It’s been very frustrating,” said Kedwell. “The likes of Cookie and Chris Dickson were really looking forward to it and on Tuesday they text and said they had Covid.

“I had two players late on Friday (drop out too) so four starters were out and I had to juggle it around. I made everyone have a test on Saturday and that was panic-time, thinking it could be carnage but the rest of them came through okay.

“It goes to show how much of a good squad we actually have. It’s hard because you don’t know where we are going to go with it, we don’t know if we’re going to get to the 27th (of December) or not.

“It’s going to be hard for myself as a manager. We’ve had it the last two years when I’ve been playing so that was a bit different. I’ve got to try and keep the boys ticking along and make sure their mindset is on it.

“It’s very difficult but it’s life at the minute and we’ve gone through it nearly two years now - it’s the new norm.”

Kedwell knows the bigger picture is more important than football, especially at this time of year.

He appreciates it’s a juggling act but wants football to carry on if it’s safe to do so.

“It’s hard because people are losing their lives,” added Kedwell. “Everyone wants to play but lives are more important than anything, especially football and things like that.

“Coming up to Christmas it’s hard because you don’t want people missing that time with their families and loved ones. Hopefully something comes up and it’s okay and we can carry on playing with the league, and carry on with our lives really.”

Managing in Covid times has presented an extra challenge for Kedwell in his first managerial role.

He’s already had to build an entire squad, regroup after winning his first two games in charge and deal with injuries in the first six months in charge.

Despite all the upheaval and seeing his Cray side drop into the bottom two in Isthmian Premier with games in hand while they play FA Trophy matches, Kedwell is enjoying the challenge of management.”

“I knew what I was coming into but I didn’t know it was going to be this hard,” he admitted. “To recruit a whole new squad with not one player was a challenge. But that’s how I was as a player, I loved challenges, I just love football that much.

“You know me, I always believe in myself when I’m on the pitch and I’m like that when I’m off the pitch. When I got the job and had to recruit it was really fun, I loved ringing players up and trying to get them in, them turning me down and things like that. It was a buzz for me.

“I’ve loved every minute of it, especially getting a team to play how I want to play. When we do things in training and then do it in games that I want to do, it’s such a buzz to see when they get it right.

“They’ve played 18 league games together and you can see that it’s going to come. When it does then I’ll enjoy it even more.

“It’s a completely different buzz to playing. When you’re a manager and you win games, it goes on for two days, when you’re a player you think about it for two or three hours. It’s a different buzz but I’m enjoying it because the players have been magnificent, they are a good group of boys who want to win and learn, especially the younger ones. Hopefully the wins start coming more frequently.

“It’s hard that we’ve dominated games and are not winning so we are where we are (in the league). That’s the thing I can’t point out and see why but now I’m getting it.

“It’s been a rollercoaster but no-one can say my managerial career if I carry on doing it or if I’m here or wherever, that I haven’t had the tough side straight away. I haven’t come in with players already here, I’ve had it tough, so I can’t wait for the good side.”