WORK IN PROGRESS

 By Simon Wright

‘We have a strong squad for our level” said Gary Whild during his post-Brackley presser.  Yes, we do.  In quality.  

Quantity is a different issue. The Yeltz do lack some volume, particularly up front.  As a football squad, we’re work in progress. We always will be. Would be lovely if a complete squad could be assembled during early pre-season.  Doesn’t work like that now despite the best efforts of our management.  On a positive note, I’d expect definitive news on the trialists soon which will ease immediate supporter concern.   Even so, work in progress remains.

The season proper is almost upon us. Strikers, particularly those are good at their job, are very hard to attract. They are much in demand and can play suitors against each other.  They expect “appropriate” remuneration. Some, mentioning no names, are willing to go to the wire and beyond to get the deal they want.   That’s not too likely for Town

We really don’t want another Adi Yussuf.  Given his age and having just played for two “last resort” outfits, didn’t feel a good fit at all.  His arrival felt like a pressure reaction to a gap rather than a considered policy.

To a degree we’ve grown our own attacking talent recently. KD arrived as a full back or midfielder.  Miracle Okafor as a raw, young Step 4 talent. We may yet do that again. I’m sure Mason Heather’s dad would be advocating for his son to be that next step-up. That may yet happen but aged 18, he will probably require loaning out and looking again next summer.

A target man is top of supporters wish lists.  Genuinely aren’t many around. Not mobile, scoring ones anyway.   They’re not fashionable. We’d have liked Gregory to be that but reality intervened. If they aren’t any to be found then we have to find another way.  The way worked pretty well against the Harriers.

There is an area non-league pecking order.   Sometimes you must wait for a higher club to decide who they want and who they don’t.   Telford and Hereford both shop in the Birmingham/ Black Country area.  We’re a very decent third or fourth behind them.  Must be said we do seem to recruit often from the Coventry/ Warwickshire area where motorway links make travel feasible.    

On occasions, there’s a chain, a bit like a house move chain. If Club A get player B, then Player C can get his dream move to Club D.  Said Club D can wave goodbye to the very average Player E (but still best they have). Club F at a lower level will be grateful to have him.  If you’re that club F, there’s a lot of patience needed.

Being in a conurbation near a motorway has many advantages but the downside is that other clubs and scouts are an easy drive away. And Yeltz players get noticed. Performing well in front of four figure crowds in Step 3 gets you noticed. Additionally, not succeeding in play-offs make you vulnerable.  We will lose players upwards. Contrast that with our first opponents Leiston. Players are far less likely to get noticed in a Suffolk village and where else you going to go that’s sexier?   

Our big local clubs will not have decided yet how many Academy players they can loan out.  They’re generally not keen on loaning outfield players to part-time clubs, even less to those in Step 3.  Yet the arrangement can work well.  I recall 18-year-old Dara O’Shea from WBA making his adult football debut at Step 3 St Ives.   He’s a Premier League regular now and a full international but he learnt his trade, grafting for 9 months at our level.

Let’s acknowledge the Gaffer has replaced all the departees with quality performers.

Sensible people will also realise just because there is no public noise, it doesn’t mean that our management aren’t on the phone or laptop every night, checking, encouraging, asking - trying to chip out a deal piece by piece.

Life is always more complicated for part-time players. Can they get to training on time from where they live or work?  As the crow flies, South Staffs should be a reasonable recruitment patch for a thrusting, well supported club. The reality of living North of Junction 10, M6 and having to battle through the everyday holdups twice a week, every week to Halesowen, you’re just going to say no.   Years back, that’s the reason top scorer Ben Haseley gave for leaving.  Can they get the time off they need?  At this level, it’s not uncommon for individuals to miss certain fixtures, often rearranged ones.  A club can live with that, it’s how many and when. 

Patience is key here.  Players will become available throughout the season. Think of Butterfield, Ceesay, Flanagan, Clayton-Phillips, Willetts, Cameron, Ponticellii etc.  They joined when opportunity permitted throughout 24/25.  Expect the same again.  Contracts are thin on the ground at Step 3 so movement can be very quick.  Our situation is no different to most other clubs at this level and above.

Patience.  We simply can’t get everyone we want when we want them.  We’re work in progress