LEYTON Pennant general manager Gary Brooker believes his team have set themselves up for a push for promotion after starting the season with a flourish.o

When Brooker took over in the summer he inherited a side that had just managed to hold on to their Ryman League Division Two status, but with the help of manager Colin Richards and coach Mark Mennell, the trio have guided Pennant to just three points off top spot with two games in hand. o

And following last Saturday's 2-0 victory over Ashford Town they are also in the third round of the FA Vase.

Brooker said: "When I took over I knew changes needed to be made and the main one was the attitude of the players and the people involved in the club off the field.

"However we now have a togetherness amongst the lads and both Colin Richards and Mark Mennell have done some tremendous work with them.

"I think we have a chance of promotion now and I was disappointed with the 0-0 draw with Thurrock on Monday night, because we were by far the better side."

Brooker, who left Pennant during the mid-90s to take over at Cheshunt, is glad to be back at Wadham Lodge and he said: "I was pleased to return and my main aim was to turn things around and so far we have done better than anyone expected, because if we had been mid table at this stage everybody would have been happy.

"All the new players have done well and the boy Matty Waldron, whom we signed as a sweeper. has been man of the match most games and another big plus has been Russel Ling, the goalkeeper."

"We have also got a lot of good players at the club like Jay Notley, who whilst still being young, has a lot of experience and has played at a much higher level."

However the player who really seems to be at the top of his game at the moment is top scorer Billy Cove, who made it 12 for the season with his brace against Ashford in the cup.

Mr Brooker adds: "Sometimes we moan at him about his work rate, but you can't say too much because he just keeps scoring."

Another major change in the summer was the reintroduction of a reserve team and Brooker points to the emergence of David Field in recent games as a good example of how well that has worked.

He said: "David has played the last couple of games for us and he has come on leaps and bounds.

"I have also been surprised that some of the lads in the reserves haven't played non league football before."

The only major blip on the season was the 3-0 FA Cup defeat at Clacton in September.

But Brooker adds: "Obviously we would have liked a good Cup run because they are a great money spinner.

"But if everything continues to click then I think we can put together a good run in the Vase and if we maintain our form we have got every chance of going up."Peter King