POTTERS Bar manager Adam Lee jetted back from America to take charge of the Scholars for the first time on Saturday. After former boss Steve Browne quit Bar for Enfield Town, the job was given to Lee on December 15. However, since then he has been away on

POTTERS Bar manager Adam Lee jetted back from America to take charge of the Scholars for the first time on Saturday.

After former boss Steve Browne quit Bar for Enfield Town, the job was given to Lee on December 15.

However, since then he has been away on a pre-arranged family holiday to the States, which meant he missed the away defeat to Northwood and the 0-0 draw at Leyton.

Lee said: "I got the job at 10.30pm on the Monday night and was at the airport at 7am the next morning, it was a real whirlwind thing."

In his absence, newly appointed Town number two Mike Smee has been looking after first team affairs.

At the weekend Lee could do little to stop Bar losing 4-1 to one of his former clubs, Wingate & Finchley.

It seemed a little of the manager's jetlag may have rubbed off on his team, as they found themselves 4-0 down at half-time.

Lee said: "Walking in today (Saturday) was always going to be difficult, but I thought for the first 20 minutes we competed well but then conceded a soft goal.

"We had a good one-on-one straight after through Mus (Dumbuya), then we had a definite penalty turned down then they go down the other end and make it 2-0.

"We seemed to throw the towel in and conceded three and four very quickly."

Lee admitted he was "shellshocked" at half-time, but had praise for how his players reacted in the second period.

The Scholars pulled a goal back through Alex Bolt and saw keeper Harry Ricketts save a late Wingate penalty.

"The players showed a bit of pride and had some spirit about them and I was pleased with that," he said.

"There were positives, but Rome wasn't built in a day and we are well aware we have a big job here and it's not a short-term programme.

"We want to get back playing some good football, which the club has been playing, but we have lost four or five key players."

The target for Lee and Smee is ensuring Bar avoid relegation.

He added: "Between now and the end of the season it's about amassing enough points to make sure we are in the league and we are in a healthy position for that."

Potters Bar visit Cheshunt this Saturday.