Pontefract Collieries' first team manager Brendon Ormsby has expressed his delight with his management team as the club enters the second month of the 2011/12 season.

"I could not be more pleased with my staff," Ormsby explained. "They have gelled really well, and are all making a great contribution to building a successful team."

Ormsby believes that it is the sense of unity within the management team that is crucial to their success: "In any management team, it is important that everybody is pulling in the same direction. The lads are certainly doing that."

In preparing for the current season, Ormsby took the decision to appoint two of his senior players as his assistant managers; striker Duncan Bray and centre-half Nick Handley.

However, the decision was not taken on a basis of seniority.

"Regardless of their experience, I saw some special qualities in Dunc and Nicky," the Ponte boss explained.

"They are both highly-qualified coaches, with the ability to help players improve as individuals and to develop as a team. But more than this, I saw two men of character - solid, totally trustworthy, complete integrity, and a belief in going about things the right way. They are also intelligent, and very good judges of players and teams. Great guys."

Bray believes that the team is covering all bases: "The management team is working well as we are all trying to achieve the same things for Ponty this season, and all willing to do whatever it takes to bring success.

"Nick, John and I support the Gaffer in whatever he needs from one week to the next, whether that may be looking to bring in players to strengthen the team, share coaching duties, take warm-ups, or look at the opposition we will be facing in any upcoming matches."

With Ormsby declaring that he believes his squad is good enough to win trophies and that he will only add to their number "if an exceptional player comes available," the gaffer has declared that improvements to his team will come through the work that his management team do on the training ground, in working with players on a one-to-one basis, and in the dressing room.

"This is where having two highly capable coaches will help," Ormsby explained. "The players are getting to understand that we can help them improve, provided they are prepared to put the hard work in at training.

"With Ian Burchnall also available to help out when we are stretched, I believe that we have a coaching team that is second to none, and the guys to make sure that we can work with individuals, small groups or the whole team within the same evening."

At the end of the day, management is all about getting the best out of players, and it is obvious that the impact of the management team is certainly being felt by the players.

"There is a great atmosphere around the club," explained Lee Kelsey who has made an outstanding start to his career in between the Ponte sticks, "and the management team are playing a major part in creating that feeling. Everybody feels that they are improving as players under the guidance of the gaffer, Nick and Dunc."

There seems to be a lack of egos to damage the unity, if the feelings of Colls' veteran Jonny Forsyth are anything to go by.

"Nobody tries to undermine each other," Forsyth explained.

"Everybody knows who the gaffer is, but also respect what Nicky and Dunc bring to the team. The fact that they are such different characters helps as well.

"Dunc is a really funny guy, great for the dressing room. Nicky is like a teacher (unsurprisingly, given his profession), and the gaffer is a great boss. It is obvious that they all get on well together, respect each other, and feed off each other's ideas."

It is hardly surprising, given such support and guidance, that Forsyth is enjoying some of the best form of his career, and putting in some real captains performances this season. "I'm really enjoying my football," he explained.

One of the main reasons for the unity of purpose within the team is that there is no doubt about who is in charge.

"There is only one gaffer," explained Bray. "Brendon makes it totally clear exactly what he wants from us all, and this makes it really easy to work for him.

"In fact, it makes it really easy for players to play for him, as well, as every man in the dressing room knows exactly what is expected of them."

Lee Kelsey expands: "The gaffer is, quite simply, the best boss I have ever worked for. What sets him apart is that he explains exactly what you are doing right, what you are doing wrong and, crucially, what you can do to put it right." (Has there ever been a better description of perfect management?)

Kelsey continues: "Since the gaffer has come into the club, he has installed a structure which means everyone has a specific role in the development of the Colls."

Assistant Manager Nicky Handley reckons that Ormsby strikes a perfect balance between providing direction and allowing his assistants the freedom to make their own mark.

"We're encouraged to make our own contributions," Handley explains, "while Brendon has everything organised. It's really rewarding way of working together under the man in charge."

Within the club, there is enormous respect for the way that Ormsby deals with everybody, especially his players.

Lee Kelsey recognises that "one of the key factors in our early success is the gaffer's man management. He treats everyone on the same level and speaks to us as men.

"By taking the time to get to know us personally, he is able to speak to us individually, knowing how we will respond to criticism and praise respectively.

"With Nicky and Dunc, they have created a real buzz around the place. The atmosphere is great, our belief and confidence are high, and all the lads are desperate to be a part of bringing success to Ponte."

Whatever the qualities of the management team, they are all aware that they will be judged on results at the end of the season.

In this respect, the team are focused on driving the club towards a successful season.

Duncan Bray is convinced that the club is ready for lift-off after a solid start: "The start of the league season has been excellent and the way in which we have won our first three games should have given us all confidence moving forward, but we all realise there is lots of hard work and battles ahead."

Nick Handley reiterates that the management team have great faith in the players under their wing: "It would be easy to say that the new signings have helped to lift the club, but everybody is appreciated at the same level and treated on their merits from week to week, game by game, training session by training session. Everybody is working hard to get in the team, stay in the team, and improve the team."

Bray expands: "We have a young squad with loads of talent, mixed with a few older heads, we have everything it takes to bring success this season.

"When you have a facelift to a squad sometimes it is hard for them to gel straight away, but our 100% start in the league is testament to their hard work in training and the team spirit we have in a few short weeks.

"I think we have two key improvements to the squad this year which we lacked at the latter stages of last season: strength in depth, and several players with the quality to win a game.

"If we are going to win things this season we need to ensure we stick together, continue to work hard, and focus on playing fluid, attractive football as we have too much talent to resort to long-ball tactics.

"I am sure at some point during the season we will have a blip, but if we maintain our team spirit we will be in good shape come May 2012."

Ormsby is also quick to praise his players. "At the end of the day, we can provide the players with the support, the guidance and the help they need for success, but they have to put the work in on the pitch, on the training ground, and in their preparation."

"I am delighted with the attitude of our players. Not one of them has been moody when left out of the first team. They have all buckled down, put in the hard work - even demanding games in the reserves to prove themselves - and shown the attitude required to be a winner.

"It is the players that deserve the greatest credit for the start we have made, and the players who will need to continue this hard work for the rest of the season, if they want success."