THE TEAM spirit and ethos from Wales and Iceland in the Euros and new Premier League champions Leicester City can be a catalyst for Yate Town to begin again in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West next season, believes striker Darren Edwards.

And, after a month as Yate’s interim player-manager, Edwards, 36, is happy to leave that job to new boss Paul Britton and his backroom staff now.

The squad returned to training last Thursday after their close season break with a host of new faces in the squad.

Britton has had to assemble a new team due to departures.

The upheavals at the Bluebells have also seen Yate Town Reserves withdrawing from the Gloucestershire County League and a reduced playing budget, with Britton working closely in the future with director of football Nigel Hawkins and the successful youth squads that he oversees.

But a new season can spell new opportunities and Edwards thinks that if Yate Town become ‘horrible to play against’ by incorporating the spirit of the Euro nations who have done so well in this summer’s tournament and that of Leicester, they can make teams dread to take them on.

Edwards said: “It just goes to show what can happen if you have people believing in themselves.

“There is nothing worse than playing against a guy who is more up for it than you. When you get that, they are hard to beat. That is what we have got to try and do.

“You have to make yourself horrible.

“You look at the examples and see how Leicester won the Premiership and look at how Wales got to the semi-finals. It’s just a bit of grit and determination and a bit of game planning that everyone buys into.”

He added: “Next season is a great opportunity for a lot of the young lads to play at this level. It’s great for players to step up – and they will not get a better chance to play at this standard.”

Edwards took over as interim player-manager in March after former manager Craig Laird left the club. It was the striker’s first time at being the man at the top. He added: “(Being player-manager) makes you realise how easy playing is. It’s a breeze.”