That’s fine for me though. I know people are disappointed we don’t seem to be going hell for leather to get promoted, but I think there’s a need to be realistic. Back-to-back promotion into the Football League has only ever happened once (Salford).
If we finish ninth or tenth this season, that’s an outstanding achievement for a newly promoted, part-time side. Okay, we’ve had Mark Stott’s takeover, but it happened mid-season. We have the structure and largely the squad of a club with far fewer resources, and one who is realistically not thinking yet about League football. And let’s be honest: if we go up this season, without things like full time football and a training ground sorted, it’s going to be a mad rush to get it all sorted. What would that lead to?
A few have said the league will be stronger next season, so now’s our chance, but there’s two counter-points to that. Firstly: we’re still only a mid-table side in what people are terming a low-quality league. It’s worth remembering that sometimes we’re not very good; that’s not a criticism, but as per above, we’re a new side still acclimatising to this level. Secondly, the league might be better next year, but so will we. Nothing to worry about.
I can see a scenario where we properly go for it next season and still miss out on promotion. I’d hope not, but it wouldn’t bother me. I think three seasons is a good length of time to build a squad capable of dominating a division. It’s what we did in League Two under Jim and it’s what we did in the Nat North.
It’s a bloody difficult division to get out of, this. It took Luton as many years as it did millions to crack it. Orient took a couple of years, Wrexham have been giving it a go for more than a decade, and then there’s little Fylde. ()