End of Season Message From The Board

The Board's End of Season Message reflects on a tough campaign, confirms Grant Joshua will lead the rebuild and sets the focus on a strong response next season.

End of Season Message from the Board:

Now the season has concluded we can reflect fully on what has been a very disappointing outcome following a difficult second half of the campaign.

As a board we take responsibility for that outcome - this is not where we expected or wanted the club to be and ultimately the responsibility for setting the direction, structure and environment to succeed on the field sits with us. While there are a number of contributing factors, we recognise that we have fallen short.

After last season’s late reprieve, it is also fair to say that we did not make the most of that opportunity. That reprieve brought its own challenges as it came at a point where we had already begun preparing a squad for Step 5 with a new manager in place.

However, while that created disruption, it cannot be used as an excuse for where we have finished. In fact, at the halfway stage of the season, sitting in mid-table, it looked as though we had successfully navigated those challenges and established a solid platform to build from. What followed was a run that ultimately cost us our place in the NPL and one we have to be honest about in our assessment.

There is no single reason for that downturn with a mixture of mistakes and moments of bad luck leading to too much disruption across the season.

We used a high number of players which inevitably affected consistency in selection with only six players making over 30 appearances and that lack of continuity made it difficult to build rhythm and momentum.

The underlying numbers also tell a clear story. We conceded the first goal in 34 matches, repeatedly leaving ourselves with a mountain to climb and scored first in just 13 games, winning eight of those. Over the course of a season, those patterns take their toll, both physically and mentally.

What perhaps makes this campaign more frustrating is that, in many respects, we did a few things well on the pitch. There is genuine quality within the squad and there were numerous performances that, on another day, would have produced better outcomes. However, football is ultimately decided in both penalty areas and it is there that we terribly underperformed.

During the key period of January and February, when results were going against us, there was a sense that one moment might allow us to turn the corner but unfortunately that moment never came.

The late defeat at Coventry Sphinx and the draw at St Neots, where a late penalty could have secured three points, felt like pivotal moments that went against us and proved significant.

Looking forward now, I want to confirm that Grant Joshua will remain as manager.

Grant joined the club 12 months ago with the objective of building a side capable of winning promotion from Step 5 and that objective is now exactly the same going into next season.

It has been a challenging season for Grant and his staff. Ideally, this would have been a year where adversity provided learning while still achieving survival. Instead, it has been a much harsher experience for everyone involved.

That said, the attitude, work rate and the relationship that has been built with Grant over the past year are exactly why we are continuing with him.

We believe he is a talented manager with the ability to build a strong, competitive side, and he will have our full support in doing so.

We are under no illusions about the task ahead - recent experience tells us the United Counties League Premier South is not an easy division to get out of and it will require the right recruitment, preparation and mentality.

No one at the club wants to experience relegation but we must now deal with the reality in front of us. There is an opportunity here to reset after three challenging seasons at Step 4 and our focus is on using that reset in the right way to build something stronger and more sustainable in terms of success on the field.

Our aim is clear: to return to the NPL as quickly as possible while delivering a standard of football that reflects the size of the club and the expectations of our supporters.

I would also like to place on record my thanks to our supporters whose backing, throughout what has been a very testing period, has been unwavering.

Attendances at Butlin Road have increased significantly compared to last season, which is a strong reflection of the support this club continues to receive and something we are determined to build on.

Finally, a sincere thank you to our volunteers. The club simply would not function without the time, effort and commitment they give week in, week out. Their contribution remains invaluable.

This season has been a setback and one we must learn from properly - what matters now is how we respond.

Work is already underway behind the scenes and we move forward together with renewed focus and a determination to ensure this club returns stronger.

Neil Melvin - Director, on behalf of the Rugby Town FC Board.