Joshua Targets Immediate Bounce Back

New Rugby Town boss Grant Joshua was still in bullish mood despite the confirmation that the club would not be afforded a reprieve from relegation into Step Five of the non-league football pyramid.

The provisional league allocations released by the FA see Town returning to the UCL Premier South for the 2025/26 campaign, but Joshua remained unfazed by the emerging news.

He reassured supporters that him and his team were already on full systems go ahead of the announcement and there would be no deviation from the original plan now: "The work's well underway on getting a new squad together.

"We've always said regardless of where we end up in the pyramid that it wouldn't affect the plan at all, as we're building a team strong enough to challenge at Step Four even if we ultimately have to start a level below that next season.

"We've got loads of meetings with current and prospective players before the end of May, and I'm confident that we can field an exciting line-up for the fans and bring success back to the club again.

"Hopefully it will be chalk and cheese from what the supporters saw last season, and we can put together something for them to be really impressed by and proud to come and watch."

The 37-year-old arrived at Butlin Road two weeks ago after five successful years at his two previous clubs Lye and Coleshill, in which time he guided Lye into Step Four of the pyramid in 2023 before narrowly missing out on a place in the NPL Midlands play-off the following year, before moving to Coleshill and leading them to a respectable ninth-placed finish in the same division.

Joshua's Coleshill side also secured a spot in this year's Walsall Senior Cup Final, which they then went on to lift on Tuesday after a 3-1 victory over Darlaston, but he was keen to emphasise that he did not see the switch to Valley as a backward step in his managerial career.

He said: "With no disrespect to where I have been previously, the potential here at Rugby is immense and we firmly believe that there's a genuine opportunity to go through the leagues over the coming few years.

"With the existing infrastructure, ownership and fan base alongside the general feel of the town, it is exactly the project that we've been looking for and we can't wait to get going."

Joshua will be joined at Town by his regular backroom team of Chris Rabone and Ross Harris, and he was keen to stress the strong bond that they enjoy: "We've been together for more than twenty years in various environments - through college, university, at both previous clubs and now here.

"We have always worked together as a package, and if I hadn't been able to bring Chris and Ross with me, then it's unlikely that I would have come to the club.

"We are all really excited by the challenge ahead and we know that to have been given the chance to manage a club of this stature and potential at our ages is a great opportunity for us all.

"We know that we're still learning our trade though, but we're determined to continue improving and keep the achievements coming."

He concluded: "We all believe that it's important that there's a local feel to what we are trying to do here and that the fans are able to see that and relate to it.

"The upcoming player meetings will all be held at the club so that we can showcase the excellent facilities to them.

"I'm hoping that we will end up with a balance of players that have played here before, those that we've worked with previously and some brand new, real quality additions on top of that too."