AFC Women manager Scott Booth sat down with RedTV ahead of our league opener away to Hibernian on Sunday.

RedTV subscribers can watch the in-depth interview in full by clicking here.

Squad Changes and Continuity

“There was obviously going to be some changes, both in terms of the structure of our week and the squad changes, because generally speaking in the women’s game, we go through one-year contracts and there’s always going to be big changes if that’s the case.

“That’s one of the other sides of the club that we want to try and change as well. I think there’s no doubt that having to change pretty much entire squads year after year lacks a lot of continuity.

“The squad is more of a hybrid model at the moment. You obviously can’t do too many things at once and have too many changes. We have to make sure that we are sustainable and build year on year, but there have been some bigger changes in terms of the schedule this season and also with bringing players in that are more able to take part in a more full-time model.”

“The balance is really difficult to strike between the part-time and full-time players, because we are also signing players that are purely here to play football. that’s one of the reasons why we can’t move too quickly because we have to cater for both types of player.

“It’s been a tough window, but I think we’ve done well.”

Pre-Season and Glasgow City Performance

“Having just the three games and a couple of weekends where we could adjust accordingly was really important for us.

“We knew that we could turn up the dial a bit if we needed to, but we could also take a foot off the pedal if we needed that as well. I think it has given us the flexibility that we required this pre-season.

“I was really happy with the Glasgow City game. Obviously, we still lost the game, so we still have that to think about, but the manner in which we lost the game, having conceded a really early goal and then for large spells keeping the ball really well against a top side, was positive.”

Season Challenge Ahead

“It is going to be a really tough season. We are going to go into every game knowing that we can certainly compete, if not win every game, or lose every game. We know that is the way that this league is set up, ten really strong sides.

“There will of course be games where we feel that we must win, and then there will be games where we want to compete like we did against City just the other week, but hopefully keep those games closer so that we can edge one or two of them as well.

“The start we have got against the champions is really tough away from home, and then we follow that up with Glasgow City at home. We know it is a tough start.

“I think it is exciting going into the first game. It is going to be live on TV, against the champions, and these are the games that the girls want to play in.”

Ambitions

“I think we have to be ambitious and aim for the top six. Last season it was too early for us to be in the top half of the split. Despite the fact that you still had the threat of relegation by being in the bottom half, I felt that it gave us the opportunity to go into games and win games and develop the players better than being in the top six and defending for large spells.

“I think it was right then, but this time coming I would prefer not to be in the bottom four. So let’s aim for top six.

“We feel that we want to be seen as a professional outfit despite the fact that some of the players are still not professional. We want to act professional; we want to have that degree of professionalism in the way that we play and how seriously we take it.

“I would also like to feel that we can play good football and keep the game tidy in possession and be connected. I think we are a team that, when we are connected both in and out of possession, we look really difficult to beat and to bypass. The opposition really struggle.

“We want to enjoy playing football. We want to have the ball, not be chasing the ball all the time. And we do not really want the game to be transitional either, because a lot of teams last season worked better than us in those transitions, because they were set up to play that way. So yes, I would like to think that we can play good football, and the fans can enjoy watching it.

The journey

“A little bit of the unknown will hit us at times. We know that the season is a journey with ups and downs. I know that for sure through the football career that I have had.

“The players absolutely love when the fans are there and behind us. I hope that this season is another step forward for us as a club on the women’s side, and I hope that it is a step forward in terms of the number of fans that we get to games.

“There is no doubt that when the fans are there and cheering the side on, we are a better side.”