Dean Cox admits it felt a bit strange to be giving a pre-match team talk rather than listening to one.

But the former Albion and Leyton Orient winger has a few references on which to draw as be tackles his first role as manager.

Cox says there was a bit of the Jose Mourinho about his celebration of a last-minute winner in his first game as Lancing boss.

They came from 2-0 down to beat Ashford 3-2 in Isthmian League south east.

But there might be influence from former Albion bosses as he gets to grips with the new challenge.

“I think I’ve got Micky Adams’ anger,” he said with a laugh.

“Probably Russell Slade’s man-management in terms of talking to players one-to-one, phoning them up at home, just little extras rather than just doing it at the training ground.

“A bit old school but also understanding the players.

“They are not just players, they are people, so getting to know them on a personal level is important.”

So a mix of potential influences - but Cox will be his own man.

He got the call from Lancing at short notice after previous bosses Dale Hurley, Alex Walsh and coach Matt Evans left for Haywards Heath.

At the moment it is as manager only, though he hasn’t ruled out playing.

He said: “I live in Lancing and I’ve been there a few times just to watch a game of football.

“I wasn’t able to take a training session before my first game.

“I met the players at half-past 12 on Saturday.

“I changed the formation a little bit because I had watched a few games.

“I called one player back who I also knew (Marcel Powell) because I felt he could give me something different.

“But it was just tweaks, nothing major.

“When you go 2-0 down you fear the worst but we got a cracking goal from Kane Louis.

“That made the team talk at half-time a tad better but there were a few words spoken.”

Reece Hallard went on as sub and scored twice to grab the win.

Cox said: “To score with the last kick of the game was brilliant.

“I did a bit of a Jose Mourinho, running down the touchline. Completely lost it!

“If you’d told me that was the way the game was going to finish, that would have been what I’d have dreamt.”

A midweek postponement has allowed time to get the players together on the training pitch.

Cox said: “They are a great bunch of lads.

“The budget is not as good as most in the league.

“What we don’t have there, we are going to have to have in spirit and work-rate.”

Cox started the season as a player at Worthing and retains a good relationship with the club and boss Adam Hinshelwood.

He said: “Worthing have been fantastic.We’ve got four of their players.

“Hinsh has been great. I’d like to think we are helping him as well.

“They are young lads who are playing first-team football.

“He knows we play the right way and they will be well looked after and I’ve obviously played with them as well, so that helps.

“I’m going to have to lean on some contacts, a bit of wheeling and dealing, hoping to try and improve the squad a little bit if we can, but there is definitely a great base to work off.

“I’ve done a lot of coaching.

“When I was at Orient I did the under-18s.

“It was strange on Saturday, having to take the chat before the game rather than listen to one. But it was something I enjoyed.

“The boys took in what I wanted, certainly in the second half. Not the first half!

“In the first 20 minutes we looked nervous.

“But we played some great stuff.”