United midfielder Neal Bishop says the appointment of Graham Alexander as manager came as something of a surprise, but insists everyone in the squad is on board and raring to go.
He also added that having both Nick Daws and Andy Dawson still on board, helps make the transition much smoother.
He told The Iron PlayerHD: “It’s obviously come as a surprise to us as players as well. We had the day off yesterday and I got a text message ten minutes before it was announced, which incidentally I didn’t get, because I’d left my phone at home.”
“But all the lads are the same, we’ve come in this morning as usual. I don’t think anybody had an inkling and the chairman’s obviously made the decision with the best interests of the club at heart.”
“All the lads are on board and with Nick (Daws) and Andy (Dawson) being here, it minimises the upheaval.”
NEW COACHING TRIO: Graham Alexander pictured with Nick Daws and Andy Dawson in the former Burnley player's first session in charge of the club.
“The season is still alive, but we can’t look any further than Friday, which is a big game.”
United travel to Oakwell on Friday to face Barnsley, in the first of a Easter double header. A game which Bishop feels is sure to test the visitors to their maximum.
In saying that though, the 34-year-old stated it’s a good opportunity to see how far the Iron have progressed as a team.
“I think when we beat them here, they were on a run of six or seven losses on the bounce, so to get where they are is remarkable,” he said.
“When we played them earlier on in the season, they had a good team of footballers. So to see them struggling earlier on in the season led me to think they were in a false position. They’re probably where they expect to be now and looking at the team, where I expect them to be too.”
“So it’s going to be a good test. They’re on a good run of form, but these are the kind of teams you want to test yourself against and it gives us a chance to see how far we’ve come.”
After facing the Tykes, the Iron return to Glanford Park on Easter Monday, where an encounter with the much improved Swindon Town awaits.
For Bishop the clash with the Robins will be much like Friday’s with Barnsley, but again he believes it’s a great chance to make progress.
“They’re another team which early on in the season you didn’t expect to be down there, but they’ve turned it around,” he added.
“So I imagine they’re thinking much the same as us, where they feel if they can get seven or eight wins out of the last ten games they can probably nick that sixth spot, which is still available.”
“Two really good games in quick succession and I think we’ll come out of the Easter weekend knowing a lot more about or season.”
See much more in preview of the Barnsley clash, including reaction from new manager Graham Alexander and Neal Bishop on The Iron PlayerHD.