Former Chelsea and Leicester player Sinclair ‘privileged’ to have Brackley chance

The former Chelsea and Leicester City centre-back moved to the Saints in a playing capacity towards the end of last season, helping the club survive in Vanarama National League North.

He continued in a player-coach role this season and was given the task of caretaker manager when Jon Brady opted to resign after the defeat to North Ferriby United earlier this month.

Sinclair has since claimed two points in as many games, with Brackley drawing 1-1 at Stockport County last Saturday before being pegged back in a 2-2 draw at home to Lowestoft Town on Tuesday night.

And Sinclair, who was player-manager at Colwyn Bay before departing at the start of 2015, said: “I’m comfortable with this role.

“I’ve been asked to take the job until the decision is made by the chairman, board and owner as to where we go with it.

“I’m privileged to do it. I’ve missed it, it’s been a long time since I’ve done it - since January - and a lot has happened since then.

“I can just do my best at the weekend and see what happens after that.”

And what of the man who brought Sinclair to the Saints?

“Jon Brady’s been terrific and he’ll be big shoes to fill, whoever gets the job,” Sinclair said.

“The progression he’s brought to this football club is magnificent and he’s left it in a great position.

“It’s an opportunity for someone to come in and try to move the club forward again.

“Me and Jon will speak again once the dust has settled and he’s a bit more buoyant about himself.

“We’ll speak, I’ll get him a nice glass of Rosé wine and we’ll talk football.

“He’s a football man so I expect him to be back in the game sooner rather than later.”

Sinclair says the Saints players have responded well to him moving up to manage them.

He added: “The boys have responded to as much as we could do in a week.

“They’ve responded terrifically and hopefully they’ll respond again on Saturday.”

Brackley are at home to Hednesford Town on Saturday and Sinclair is hoping the town gets behind his men at St James’ Park as they bid to rise from their current 18th position.

“Realistically we need to win on Saturday because all of a sudden the point we got at Stockport last Saturday looks a dodgy one.

“If we draw or lose on Saturday it’s not been a good week, but if we win on Saturday I would have taken five points out of this week.

“We’re hoping for a bigger crowd.

“It’s the first Saturday with me being in charge and I’d like everyone to come out and spur the boys on.

“The confidence is a little bit low and we need the fans to get behind them and push them over that line to get that self-belief back.”