Ryan Inniss: New Charlton boss Nigel Adkins has been “a breath of fresh air”

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton defender Ryan Inniss says new boss Nigel Adkins has been “a breath of fresh air” since arriving at the club.

The former Southampton manager jumped into the Valley hot seat following Lee Bowyer’s departure for Birmingham City last month.

Inniss returned from a long-term injury to feature for the first time in five months at Doncaster Rovers on Good Friday as the Addicks ran out 1-0 winners to keep their play-off hopes alive.

On Adkins, Inniss said: “Really positive. He’s been a breath of fresh air. I came back into training towards the end of the last regime. I wasn’t involved as much so I can’t really speak on that but it’s just all about what we’re going to do now and looking forward.

“It’s definitely been positive, a lot of structure, for all the boys there’s no grey areas really. There’s definitely more we can learn, we can do a lot better. But getting the basics of three points, clean sheet, the boys are speaking to each other. I really enjoyed it.

“It’s all about winning games at this stage of the season. The new manager has been in, we’ve had a little shuffle around staff-wise. But I feel like we’re all on the same page and we’re only going to grow from here. We can look upwards now hopefully.”

Lee Bowyer’s sudden departure came as a shock to many but Inniss says he only wants to look to the future when asked if he was surprised to see the former manager go.

“I don’t concentrate on things like that,” he said.

“I played under the previous gaffer and I’ve played under this gaffer and I’ve enjoyed it. Selfishly, I want the team to do well and be where we should be and focus on my comeback. So, I can’t really speak on those situations. Just crack on with the task ahead.

“[The rest of the season is] all about us. There’s two ways we can look at it. We’re playing the sides that are up there. We haven’t got to rely on any other team. We know we’ve got to go and get three points against the teams we can topple out of their positions. I think I’d rather it this way.

“We know we’re going into a big game. Every game is a cup final. I know it’s a cliché but they’re the games we want to play in. Which then, if we do make it into the play-offs, we’ve had that calibre of games. But we’re taking one step at a time and we’re steadily improving, hopefully come the end of the season we’re up there.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANREWS