A LOT has changed at Billericay Town since their last trip to Concord Rangers.

The contest in January saw Jamie O’Hara in the dugout as interim player-manager ahead of Harry Wheeler officially getting his second spell in charge underway.

But, 11 months on from that 2-2 draw, O’Hara is now in permanent charge and goalkeeper Alan Julian believes the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has made a seamless transition into the role.

“It’s always a strange one when a player you have played with becomes the manager because he is your mate in the dressing room,” said Julian.

“Sometimes it would be difficult for the players to adjust to that situation, but Jamie has made it quite easy for us.

“It’s up to us as players to realise that he is not necessarily a team-mate anymore, but our manager.

“We have to respect him as a manager because he is our boss now and it’s great.

“He has got us playing some nice football and we have also been winning games.”

Billericay have failed to get into any rhythm ahead of their Boxing Day derby with Concord at the Aspect Arena.

A host of postponements due to the poor weather has resulted in Town being able to compete in just three fixtures this month.

Billericay have also not been involved in a home National League South encounter in more than four weeks.

If 14th-placed Town - who are currently three points and five positions adrift of Concord in the standings - are to come out on top against the Beach Boys, Jake Robinson is likely to be a key player.

The striker claimed his 100th goal for the club in the Essex Senior Cup win over Basildon United earlier this month.

Club legends Billy Bricknell, Doug Young, Leon Gutzmore and Freddie Clayden are the only other stars to have reached a century of goals for Billericay and Julian feels there is still more to come from the frontman who remains Brighton & Hove Albion’s youngest ever goalscorer.

“Scoring 100 goals for a club is a great achievement and Jake deserves so much credit for getting to that landmark,” added Julian.

“I believe Jake scored 57 goals in the season we won the treble and doing that in a single campaign is incredible.

“I’m always the one to tell him to score more as I know how good he is.”