Brentford striker Ben Strevens may think new Bees owner Matthew Benham doesn’t take a hands on approach, but that doesn’t stop him fearing for his future.
Benham last month formally completed the deal that will see him take control at Griffin Park and pump £1million-a-year into the club until 2014 and made his first trip to the club’s Osterley training ground last week.
The gambling tycoon - founder of Smartodds - was at Jersey Road to speak with boss Andy Scott and spent some time casting his eye over the playing resources on show.
Strevens only switched to Brentford from Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer, but admits the chop should not be too far from anyone’s mind considering the ambitions of the new regime - despite appearances.
“He was at the training ground the other day and we didn’t even know he was there,” he said.
“You wouldn’t know he was a millionaire. There was just a couple of guys watching for a few minutes and that was the first time we’ve seen him.
“He kept himself very much to himself.
“With the money he has got I’m sure he’ll be looking to help us stabilise in League One and then get in the Championship in a couple of years.
“It is up to us as a group of players to make sure we do well and keep improving, so the gaffer wants to keep us rather than replace us.”
Fourteen games remain of Brentford’s first season back in League One and, with boss Scott scouring the loan market already for reinforcements, Strevens reckons he isn’t the only one still looking to prove himself.
“It has been a bit of an up and down season for me, but there is another 14 games to go and I need to finish strongly so that come the summer Andy doesn’t think about signing another two or three forwards,” he added.
“There are a few of us players still trying to prove to the fans and the gaffer that they can cut it in League One and I’m probably one of them.”
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