After a disappointing finish to last season, the lads are back playing friendlies and anticipating the start of the new season.
From my point of view pre-season has been long, drawn out and frustrating! At the Club's AGM, Steve Newland stepped down as Chairman, being replaced by George Toop and James Brennan came in as player's representative. Apart from that all other members remained the same.
It's that sort of continuity that we've taken into preparations for this season. With the Club in regular dialogue with both the BFA and New Milton Town Council, regarding the previous Manager's self granted salary, we look to have secured Fawcetts Field as our home venue again.
On the playing side, Frosty has kept the majority of the squad and brought in two new additions. AFC Ladbrokes old boy Adam Dale is now back with the Club and Graham Traves has been signed as our Goalkeeper. I was pleased to be able to keep hold of Ollie Wells and bar any disciplinary problems, he will be a major influence for us this season.
Competition for places is going to be the hardest it's ever been. We have 18 players signed and barring an injury crisis, we will keep it at this level. With the versatility even greater within the squad, added more to with Adam back, the challenge for the Management team, will be to pick a match day day squad of 14. For the 4 players that will miss out each game, it will be tough and the margins for being left out are small. Commitment will be the key this year, trying to pick the squad will not be easy and there will be many hours sat in Boro HQ (The Portman), trying to decide.
I strongly believe that we have a fantastic chance of Promotion and that is what the target has to be. It's a realistic one and we certainly have the ability to do it.
UP THE BOROUGH