While the Foxes have been flying high in the standings this season, Takeley have been struggling near the bottom after a mid-table finish last season.

During his time as a player with Saffron Walden Town, Fenn played alongside Takeley boss Duncan Easley and the Ilford manager has sympathy for his former team-mate.

“Takeley’s form has been bizarre this season. They played some good football last year, but seem to have gone backwards,” said Fenn.

“They will want to start putting that right and they could do that against us on Saturday.”

Ilford were given extra time to prepare for the weekend’s fixture after their league match at Bowers & Pitsea on Tuesday was called of because of a waterlogged pitch.

Fenn says he knew as early as last week that the fixture was in doubt and knows his team will be stronger when the match is eventually played.

“I have a good relationship with their boss Rob Small and he said after the Essex Senior Cup match last week that he thought it might not go ahead,” added Fenn.

“I’m glad because we’re close to a few new signings who should be here for the weekend, so we’ll be stronger when we play Bowers later.

“We were looking forward to it as Bowers have a big game in the FA Vase on Saturday and it would have been a chance to get into them.”

Ned Keating
Ilford Recorder