MARK Jones hopes his impressive start as Oxford City manager will land him the job on a permanent basis.
City entertain second-placed St Albans City on Sunday in the second part of their festive double-header in Vanarama National League South.
Jones has a perfect record from his two games in charge since taking up the post while general manager Justin Merritt sources fresh investment.
And after an impressive 4-2 triumph away to the Saints on Boxing Day, Jones admitted he hopes to stake a claim for the position.
“Of course I would love to carry on with it, because this is something I’ve been working towards for a very long time,” he said.
“Without wishing to sound arrogant, I do have confidence in my own abilities.
“My job is winning games of football and at the moment I’m doing that.
“All I can do is keep winning and hopefully whoever comes in won’t want to change too much.”
The form of 37-year-old striker Jefferson Louis has been instrumental for City, with the well-travelled former Oxford United man netting twice at St Albans.
Jones believes his signing has proved to be a gamble worth taking.
“I think people look at his past and think he might be a bit of a troublemaker, but we haven’t had any of that at all,” he said.
“His attitude has been great and he’s been a positive influence for the younger lads.
“You have to give him credit. To keep producing performances like that at 37 is testament to the work he puts in.”
Jones added: “I think it helped that we knew him already and had a good relationship with him.
“If you treat him in the right way, he’ll give back.”
Centre-back Jean Niate is City’s only absentee with an ankle injury.
SUNDAY’’S SQUAD
Oxford City (v St Albans City, home): from Belford, Grant, Poku, Ashby, Henderson, Cundy, Davies, Fleet, Ngathe, Winters, MacAuley, Fondop, Roberts, Louis, Ngamvoulou, Peake-Pijnen, Gibbens.
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