Ralph Bean Jr conceded he is fully prepared for a steep learning curve as head coach of X-Roads after enduring a baptism of fire in his first outing in the role this week.

Having assumed the reins from Khomeini Talbot in the summer after a period assisting the previous head coach last season, Bean got off to a difficult start when his team suffered a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of PHC Zebras in their season-opening Dudley Eve Trophy group B match at Bernard Park on Monday.

Despite the humbling defeat, Bean refused to shy away from the setback, fully acknowledging that there is plenty of work to do for himself and his players ahead of their next match against Somerset Trojans on Sunday.

“Coming in I already knew it was going to be a learning process and a learning curve,” Bean said. “We put in some work over the preseason but obviously we need to put in a bit more.

“We were missing some players for the game, which is no excuse by any means, but we have a lot to build on and there is certainly a lot more we can offer.

“I’ve told the players not to dwell too heavily on this result because I expect us to progress the farther we get into the season.“

While the season may not have got off to the start he would have hoped for, the former North Village player focused on the positives of being involved in the newly formatted Dudley Eve Trophy, which now features all ten Premier Division sides competing in three groups.

“Being in the Dudley Eve Trophy is actually a blessing for us,” Bean added. “I think that the fact we get to play some of the bigger teams in this competition gives us an understanding of the level and what we should be striving for.

“I think it’s the best thing that could have happened for us in terms of the new format because I’d rather go through these growing pains now rather than at the start of the league.”

Bean's expectations for the club are clear, with a focus on building stability crucial among the things he wants to implement during his early tenure.

“The expectations for me this season are just to progress as a club,” he said. “The Covid-19 pandemic hurt a lot of teams in terms of continuity.

“For me it’s a case of building on the little that we had last season and moving forward from there.

“Stability is the key thing right now because if we don’t develop the structure of the club in a proper way it can quickly fall apart and we certainly don’t want that.”