JAMIE O’HARA has no idea where Forest Green Rovers is, but head coach Mark Cooper insists the Billericay boss will be pleasantly surprised when his team step of the bus in glorious Gloucestershire.

O’Hara spoke of his lack of Forest Green geographical knowledge during his co-presenter duties on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show this morning, but Cooper is expecting the former Spurs and Wolves midfielder to find his bearings when they rock up at the picturesque setting on top of the hill for their FA Cup first round clash.

Cooper beamed: “He (Jamie O’Hara) got it right though, it is in the middle of nowhere. He was getting some stick from the punters on talkSPORT, but Forest Green is actually in the middle of nowhere, but I think they will be pleasantly surprised when they arrive, and what a lovely place it is.”

And Cooper is full of admiration for the job O’Hara has done since taking over in September after the departure of the flamboyant former owner Glenn Tamplin, who pumped more than £2m in nearly three years in control of Billericay, overseeing promotion to the sixth-tier and twice making the FA Cup first round round.

The Essex side had a penchant for big name signings during Tamplin’s tenure, who signed Paul Konchesky, Jermaine Pennant and O'Hara, but Cooper anticipates a totally different outfit which also recently parted with former Forest Green captain Gavin Gunning and Lincoln City striker Matt Rhead.

Cooper said: “This is a different job for Jamie, they’ve gone from a team that went and signed league players on ridiculous money - and it probably didn’t help what they were trying to do and it didn’t have that continuity and some players were earning lots of money and some not so much, so it’s difficult to get that harmony and a united squad.

“They’re trying to restructure their squad now by mixing some youth with older, experienced players like Ronnie Henry and Alfie Potter, who I know, and I think they’re trying to build from the bottom up, trying to be a little bit more sustainable and I think in the long run it will be easier for Jamie to manage.”

The National League South minnows, who currently sit 12th in National League South, 59 league places below League Two leaders Forest Green, but Cooper expects Billericay to provide a stern test.

He added: “ Looking at the way they play, I quite like it, they’re quiet expansive and I’ve been really impressed."

WATCH Mark Cooper's full press conference with SNJ sports editor Ash Loveridge and BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Paul Furley.