HEREFORD defender Jared Hodgkiss says that the structure provided by new manager Russell Slade will help get the best out of the Bulls.

Hodgkiss, aged 32, was named captain against Boston is Slade’s first match in charge, ending in a goalless draw.

“It was a tough game and there was few disruptions and players going down with knocks,” said Hodgkiss.

“I thought that 0-0 was a good result. Obviously everybody is going to be nervous with the new manager coming in and stuff so you have to take that into consideration.

“The lads were trying to do what little the manager had said so it was difficult. Now we’ve got a couple of weeks to work on a few things so I think you’ll see a better performance in a couple of weeks time.

“This manager will come in and give us structure so that’s exactly what we need and performances will pick up now.

“His experience speaks for itself and so he can only come in and help us and give that experience to us and hopefully we can perform on the pitch for him.

“It’s a fresh start for a lot of players in that dressing room so there’s a few chomping at the bit. Like (Jason) Pope and (Martin) Riley who have come in and done well so he’s got a tough job on his hands.

“I can’t believe the ability in that dressing room but it’s just finding a way of getting it out of us and I think this manager can do it.”

Hodgkiss who is naturally a right-back has been playing on the opposite side of the pitch so far this season.

He added: “I don’t think my performances have been at the level they should be if I was playing on the right, I’m man enough to say that.

“But I will do whatever the team needs me to do and 0-0 is me doing my job. Defenders need to get clean sheets and that’s what we did today.

“They were trying to overload us down the flanks and I think when the manager gets us on the training pitch that will be how he wants us to play, we’ll get there it’s just a matter of time.

“We’ve just got to be patient.”

When asked about his reaction to the change in management in recent week, Hodgkiss said: “It’s a bit mixed really because it happened so quick with Marc Richards and we had three games under him and he had a structure in place.

“Then Tim (Harris) took over and he let the reins off us a little bit and against Chester I felt we needed structure to get the result. We didn’t have any structure and it was a bad game all around.”

With Josh Gowling out of the side against Boston, Hodgkiss was given the captain’s armband which he also had at previous clubs at Kidderminster Harriers and Macclesfield.

“I’ve been captain everywhere I’ve played really and that’s not being big headed, I’m just quite vocal,” added Hodgkiss.

“It’s nothing new really but Josh Gowling is the captain not me.”