GREG Lake has hailed Jamie O’Hara after the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder took on the Billericay Town player-manager job in testing times.

O’Hara was handed his first managerial role just 24 hours before Glenn Tamplin walked away as the club’s owner.

But, since taking charge, O’Hara has guided Billericay into the FA Cup first round for the third consecutive season and also, thanks to a Jake Robinson hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Southend United in midweek, the fourth round of the Essex Senior Cup.

And Lake - who is a member of the consortium which completed the takeover of Town last week - feels O’Hara deserves plenty of credit.

“I didn’t know Jamie personally at all, but I obviously knew him as a player and through what he does in the media,” said Lake.

“That’s all I saw before the takeover, but what I have seen since is someone who is working really hard and fully on board with what we are trying to achieve.

“Some players left following Glenn Tamplin’s departure, but Jamie has brought in some good, young talent and the fans are enjoying the football he has got us playing.

“I’m very impressed with Jamie.”

Lake confirmed there will not be wholesale changes to the Billericay squad after the consortium took over Billericay.

Supporters were concerned that a number of star players may leave New Lodge due to the change of ownership.

But Lake is keen to suggest there will not be a squad overhaul.

“We won’t have a wholesale clear-out but we are talking to Jamie and the players about a budget we can settle on,” added Lake.

“There may be some players that go and also some that could come in, but it won’t be a huge transition or overhaul because that’s not the way to build a club.

“We are working very closely with Jamie to provide him with a budget for this season and next term which will allow us to be competitive.”