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Post by tenacres on Feb 5, 2019 21:54:11 GMT
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Post by tenacres on Feb 7, 2019 20:38:14 GMT
Are we resigning any of the existing squad?
KA: “We are talking to everybody over the next couple of months. There is certainly a possibility that some will be renewed and that will be budget dependent. We have started to sit down with Strevs [Ben Strevens], making sure we have that budget for next season. He will be left in charge of the football side of things and liaise with Mick Budny who will represent the board.
“Some will have automatic contract renewals in the event of promotion. But without knowing where this season is going to end up, whether it will be play-offs, promotion or staying in this league, it’s very difficult to make those calls yet.
“But the plans are being put in place for both outcomes – promotion and staying in this league – and those conversations will be between myself, Tom [Coffey], Mick [Budny] and Strevs.
Are there any more players coming in?
KA: “There’s the possibility of one coming in before the end of the transfer window but after that will be only looking at loans to replace injured players. This is because Ben’s [Strevens] feeling is that he is happy with the squad and happy with the way they are performing, and sometimes bringing in players disrupts that.
“As the play-off picture becomes a bit more clearer we’ll then assess the squad going forward. If we do need to make it any stronger and Strevs does feel the need for back-up there is the backing of the club to make something happen should we need to.
“There is a shortlist drawn up for loan players in key positions that we would want. Should we have an injury or a need to push harder for the play-offs we’ll be able to bring people in.”
Do you believe we can get promoted through the play-offs?
KA: “Absolutely! While the possibility is still there we believe we can. It’s really of case of everybody from first place down to tenth place are all beating each other on a regular basis and it’s a real dog fight. While we’ve still got the belief and while we keeping hanging in there, we still think we can do it.
“We do think that if you finish in the positions of sixth or seventh you’ve got an extremely hard path through the play-offs. It requires playing two games in a week, both away from home, but we believe we’ve got the players and the mentality to do it.”
What is the budget for next season?
KA: “Everything we’re doing at the moment is in line with working out our budget for next season. We’re in a position next year where Stewart’s [Donald] money is no longer allowed to be put into the club. But most of that can be affected by changing our playing budget accordingly. Whilst maintaining a very competitive budget in the league next season. Should we achieve promotion the money generated from a League 2 season will take care of the extra budget needed.
“What we now need to do is have a massive push locally, in terms of local fans and local businesses, to get people sponsoring the club and supporting the club in different ways. There is a plan to have an upcoming sponsors’ night where we showcase the club, present our plans for next season and any sponsorship opportunities. Alongside thanking those who already support the club really well.
Are there any plans for the stadium going forward?
KA: “There will be no more plans to upgrade the stadium in terms of adding more capacity or seating. When we did the last upgrade on the west stand the local council said that for the next phase we would need to justify it with a significant improvement on attendances to get planning.
“Ultimately I think we would like to convert the south stand into permanent seating with facilities underneath. What we would hope to do eventually is grow our scholarship to a level where we require classrooms under there alongside further facilities. That would be the ultimate aim but at the moment there is no plans for anything.
“But despite not having any plans on improve the actual ground at all we are looking at improving the match day experience for fans and making sure facilities are still kept to the standard we want them to be kept. This involves making small changes that might make a big improvement for the fans over the course of the season.
“Most of our changes now are fan experience based. We are in a position now where we would only have to improve the floodlights if we got promoted, everything else is football league standard.”
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Post by tenacres on Feb 7, 2019 20:39:03 GMT
Second part today:
Who will still be on the board?
KA: “Jo Sprigg and Mark Jewell have stepped down from the board of directors. Whilst they still retain their shares, they will not be active within the club anymore.
“I am currently filling the Chief Executive/Chairman’s role meaning I look after the budgets and the day to day running of the club. Tom (Coffey) is running the club operationally including the infrastructure of the ground, the facilities and looking after the media side of things.
“Remaining on the board is Mick Geddes, who acts as our Stadium Manager and currently works at the club in a part time role. We also have Mick Budny who is now working as the Director who liaises with the first team, helping to control transfers and playing budgets.
“Alan Prebble has remained on the board and is a supporter through his large sponsorship of the Silverlake Stadium, whilst Peter Vickery continues to be involved. Peter has been involved in bringing sponsors as well as offering financial support.
“The plan will be that we’d like to eventually diversify our board slightly and look to bring in someone as a Director who could be a bit more commercially minded.”
Will other areas of the club receive any support?
KA: “We have just started the process of becoming a registered charity so that all of our non-profit making teams, such as the Eastleigh F.C walking football team, the Eastleigh Ladies team and our Pan Disability team, can benefit from the National League trust support.
“We are one of only two clubs who have yet to begin this process in the National League and it is something we would need to have in place should we be promoted to the Football League. We see this as a real opportunity to do more in the community and improve what we are already doing.”
What are we doing for recruitment?
“In terms of recruitment, we’re doing a huge amount of work on looking at players who play locally at slightly lower or similar levels that will help us get a squad together for next year, within a certain radius of the club. We are looking to recruit hungry players on a upward curve. We feel we have a huge catchment area we can recruit within and look to sign players that share our ambitions going forward.
“Ben [Strevens] and his team have a great network of contacts and they are spending time watching games every week identifying targets. Our Assistant Coach Jason Bristow also has vast knowledge of the lower leagues from his time at Basingstoke.”
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Post by rocky on Feb 8, 2019 23:19:11 GMT
When the talking is done, answers come on the field. Hope tomorrow is a positive a positive answer
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Post by ballboy on Feb 10, 2019 9:20:42 GMT
It was rocky hope you were there to enjoy it. Bring on Braintree
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