Harris is pleased with home start for Daggers

5:58pm Thursday 19th June 2008

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DAGENHAM and Redbridge assistant manager Terry Harris remained cautious after the team were handed a mixed bag of opening fixtures to start their 2008/09 season.

First up for the Daggers is a home clash with Chester City on August 9, who were on the receiving end of a 6-2 demolition job by John Still's men last year.

That is followed by a testing Carling Cup tie at home to Championship side Reading, before the side travel to Lincoln City for their first away fixture.

Division new-boys Port Vale represent an unknown quantity on August 23 before trips to Morecambe and Brentford.

Despite dodging the division's big guns, Harris insisted every game at the start of the season would be a tough one, as everyone is keen to get out of the traps quickly.

"It's always difficult at the start of the season no matter who you play against because everyone will be up for the first games," observed Harris.

"We won't know which teams will be up there until the league settles down after a couple of months.

"But from our perspective it's nice to be at home for the first game, considering we faced a tough opener at Stockport last year."

Referring to the club's lucrative Carling Cup draw, against Reading Harris said: "To face on of the top sides in the higher divisions is great."

One thing that threatens to scupper Dagenham's preparations is the speculation surrounding Glen Southam, who has been linked with Coventry City, and left-back Scott Griffiths, who has alerted Reading.

"It's natural that clubs are interested in them because they are both top players," said Harris. "But to my knowledge there is nothing in these reports."