ANDY Ballard has admitted he was not expecting to be in the dug-out tomorrow without Mark Jones alongside him.

Oxford City host Slough Town in Vanarama National League South, but will do so without their manager, who parted company with the club this week.

That leaves Ballard and director of football Justin Merritt in charge of first-team affairs.

A run of results which has seen City fail to win a league match since August 26 – but reach the first round of the Emirates FA Cup – saw Jones depart after three years at the helm.

The move came as a surprise to both the players and Ballard, who paid tribute to his former boss.

“We had no idea that the decision was going to be made,” he said.

“But we understood that when you’re second from bottom in the league, these decisions can be taken.

“Maybe the good run in the FA Cup was masking our league form.

“It was obviously a very tough decision for the club to make though.”

He added: “I’m really sad to see Mark go.

“He is a fantastic guy and a really good manager, popular with players and supporters alike.

“He brought such a lot of success to the club in the last few years, particularly in the FA Cup, which has really given the whole club a lift.

“He kept the club up in the first season he took over, and that was his remit, so he has been an achiever.

“I’ve got no doubt with his experience and the success he has had, he will be back in football.

“I know the supporters will miss him, and his honesty. He’s a genuine bloke.”

Ballard knows he has to look to the future and admits he is honoured to be helping lead the team.

“My affiliation to Oxford City goes back more than 20 years,” he said.

“When I got my first manager’s job at Didcot, my ambition was to manage at the highest level I could, and Oxford City are the highest level of non-league in this county.

“I started at their under 15s, have been through all the teams, through to getting into the first team at 18 and going on to captain the club in relegations and promotions. I’m immensely proud.”

Ballard faces a baptism of fire tomorrow against a Slough side who are up to third following a run of five straight league wins.

“We need to start picking up points, but there is also a philosophy to play an exciting brand of football and we need players to buy into that,” he said.

“There is unquestioned ability in the changing room, but we need results, it’s as simple as that.

“We have fantastic defensive ability, but need to be more telling up front.”

There is a big boost for Ballard with the news that Stefan Brown and Danny Rowe have returned to full training and are in the squad tomorrow.

Zac McEachran and Reece Beckles-Richards will also feature after struggling with injuries last week.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Slough Tn, home): from King, Jones, Jefford, Ashby, Oastler, Fleet, Brown, Moore-Azille, McEachran, Owusu, Self, Wiltshire, Tapp, Wright, Benyon, Beckles-Richards, Fasanmade, Rowe.