Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell won’t be putting style over substance if it costs his side results

Winning football is ultimately all that matters for Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell.

The Brickies boss has been experimenting with different systems and styles during pre-season.

He wants his side to get the ball down and play when pitches allow but not at the expense of results.

Bourne finished third in Isthmian South East last season and have set their sights on promotion.

That means adapting to different conditions.

“I think you’ve got to look at what works and you’ve got to look at your surface and what you’re suited to,” said Maxwell.

“We do have very good ball manipulators, boys who are technically very good.

“If the pitch is better, I’d like to take an extra pass if it’s on, gain control of possession and gain control of the game.

“That’s what we want to do but we will have to adapt no doubt.

“You have to play both sides of the game no matter what surface you’ve got or who you are.

“Although some styles are more pleasing on the eye, the most pleasing thing about being a football manager or player is winning, so we’ll just have to do what works.

“It would be nice to pass the ball a little bit more than we did last year but we will do what we have to do.”

Possession is all well and good - it’s what teams do with it that counts.

Maxwell added: “Some clubs have got different cultures, I’ve noticed that.

“Some managers tweet when they’ve kept possession but they’ve lost 3-1. I don’t get that.

“I understand if you’ve dominated the game and you’ve had shot after shot and the goalkeeper’s been exceptional, and that does happen.

“But if you’ve lost hands down but kept 60% of the ball, well, that just shows you’re good at keeping the ball, it doesn’t make you a good team.

“We can all coach to keep the ball. That’s easy.