Steve Targets Next Season For Linnets Success
Wed 14th April 2010 | Runcorn Linnets | By Ian Templeman
The season may be nearing its climax, but Runcorn Linnets manager Steve Wilkes already has one eye on next season, which promises to be an exciting one for the club.
Off the field developments have progressed at pace this season, with the club's move back to Runcorn set to take place in the summer. It's meant that the on field action has at times been overshadowed in recent months but Steve says he is satisfied with the way the squad has performed.
"I've been at the club two and a half years now, and when I took the job I spoke to the chairman and we agreed it was going to be a three, four or five year job. It was never going to be a quick fix and there were other things that were more important.Â
"I knew it would be difficult this year and it has been, but there has been pressure in this job since day one. It has been a difficult two and a half years in many respects, but we have improved each year, and if we can keep that going we'll be OK.Â
"What I've found since I've been at the club is that a lot of people's expectations of Runcorn Linnets are far too high, mainly because of the success the old Runcorn club had in the past. They are expecting us to go out and win every game five or five nil and that isn't going to happen. It's fine having expectations, and we at the club have expectations, but we are not going to set them too high. I feel at times you win three or four games and no one says anything, and then you lose one and people are ready to get on your back.
"People don't realise how much hard work we've done behind the scenes to try and get new players in, but it's not easy when we are not paying as much as other clubs in the league".Â
None the less, Steve believes that progress has been made as the team is on the verge on improving on last season's performance in the league.Â
"Our initial aim was to finish in the top six, and we know we're not going to get that now, but there are other targets to aim for. As we are speaking we've got seven games left, if we get five more points we've improved on last year and if we score one more goal we've improved on last year's tally. If we can achieve both of those targets we'll have done well.Â
"On the downside, one of the big disappointments for us this season was going out the Vase early at Daisy Hill. We should have won the game convincingly, but didn't and lost a lot of money, and we certainly need to improve on that next year".
One bonus on the playing side next season is the introduction of reserve and youth teams at the club, a development that is obviously going to provide major long term benefits for Steve and his management team.
"It's going to be a massive boost to us having a reserve and youth team. When I took the job on, I remember being asked by one of the lads on the interview panel if I wanted a reserve side and I said yes. It's great we have finally achieved that as it gives me the opportunity to have more players at the club. We've been down to the bare bones recently and been stretched a bit, so much so that I had to put myself on the bench against Flixton recently, although luckily we didn't have three injuries so I didn't need to go on!
"So I'm looking forward to having a reserve squad to call on next season. In my previous managers' jobs at Darwen and Padiham we had reserve sides, and everyone used to train together, and although I couldn't obviously see them on a Saturday it gave me the chance to see how they were shaping up and also speak to the reserve team manager if you knew there were suspensions and injuries in the first team squad. Â
"It's been difficult adjusting to a situation where I don't have that, and you don't have the chance to give players the chance of being gradually introduced to the first team squad, but I'm looking forward to having the luxury of being able to do that next season".
The move back to Runcorn and a new permanent home is obviously eagerly anticipated by everyone involved at the club, although as Steve points out, it may bring added pressure on the playing side.Â
"I went up to the ground on Easter Monday before our game and it's looking really good, so we're looking forward to getting back to the town and playing there next season. It's a great reward for all the hard work everyone has put in, there's too many people to mention, but they have all done a great job and it's great to see everything coming to fruition now.
"We are looking forward to going home to Runcorn but there will be added pressure next season. We should get bigger crowds coming down, and in turn the expectations of supporters may be even higher than they have been. I don't think people realise just how young some of our squad are. We played at Alsager the other week and the average of the team was 20 years and 6 months.Â
"We hope we can bring a few more players in over the summer but I don't think we're far away from having a side that can challenge at the top of the table, and hopefully we can prove that next season".
Steve Targets Next Season For Linnets Success
Wed 14th April 2010 | Runcorn Linnets
By Ian Templeman
The season may be nearing its climax, but Runcorn Linnets manager Steve Wilkes already has one eye on next season, which promises to be an exciting one for the club.
Off the field developments have progressed at pace this season, with the club's move back to Runcorn set to take place in the summer. It's meant that the on field action has at times been overshadowed in recent months but Steve says he is satisfied with the way the squad has performed.
"I've been at the club two and a half years now, and when I took the job I spoke to the chairman and we agreed it was going to be a three, four or five year job. It was never going to be a quick fix and there were other things that were more important.Â
"I knew it would be difficult this year and it has been, but there has been pressure in this job since day one. It has been a difficult two and a half years in many respects, but we have improved each year, and if we can keep that going we'll be OK.Â
"What I've found since I've been at the club is that a lot of people's expectations of Runcorn Linnets are far too high, mainly because of the success the old Runcorn club had in the past. They are expecting us to go out and win every game five or five nil and that isn't going to happen. It's fine having expectations, and we at the club have expectations, but we are not going to set them too high. I feel at times you win three or four games and no one says anything, and then you lose one and people are ready to get on your back.
"People don't realise how much hard work we've done behind the scenes to try and get new players in, but it's not easy when we are not paying as much as other clubs in the league".Â
None the less, Steve believes that progress has been made as the team is on the verge on improving on last season's performance in the league.Â
"Our initial aim was to finish in the top six, and we know we're not going to get that now, but there are other targets to aim for. As we are speaking we've got seven games left, if we get five more points we've improved on last year and if we score one more goal we've improved on last year's tally. If we can achieve both of those targets we'll have done well.Â
"On the downside, one of the big disappointments for us this season was going out the Vase early at Daisy Hill. We should have won the game convincingly, but didn't and lost a lot of money, and we certainly need to improve on that next year".
One bonus on the playing side next season is the introduction of reserve and youth teams at the club, a development that is obviously going to provide major long term benefits for Steve and his management team.
"It's going to be a massive boost to us having a reserve and youth team. When I took the job on, I remember being asked by one of the lads on the interview panel if I wanted a reserve side and I said yes. It's great we have finally achieved that as it gives me the opportunity to have more players at the club. We've been down to the bare bones recently and been stretched a bit, so much so that I had to put myself on the bench against Flixton recently, although luckily we didn't have three injuries so I didn't need to go on!
"So I'm looking forward to having a reserve squad to call on next season. In my previous managers' jobs at Darwen and Padiham we had reserve sides, and everyone used to train together, and although I couldn't obviously see them on a Saturday it gave me the chance to see how they were shaping up and also speak to the reserve team manager if you knew there were suspensions and injuries in the first team squad. Â
"It's been difficult adjusting to a situation where I don't have that, and you don't have the chance to give players the chance of being gradually introduced to the first team squad, but I'm looking forward to having the luxury of being able to do that next season".
The move back to Runcorn and a new permanent home is obviously eagerly anticipated by everyone involved at the club, although as Steve points out, it may bring added pressure on the playing side.Â
"I went up to the ground on Easter Monday before our game and it's looking really good, so we're looking forward to getting back to the town and playing there next season. It's a great reward for all the hard work everyone has put in, there's too many people to mention, but they have all done a great job and it's great to see everything coming to fruition now.
"We are looking forward to going home to Runcorn but there will be added pressure next season. We should get bigger crowds coming down, and in turn the expectations of supporters may be even higher than they have been. I don't think people realise just how young some of our squad are. We played at Alsager the other week and the average of the team was 20 years and 6 months.Â
"We hope we can bring a few more players in over the summer but I don't think we're far away from having a side that can challenge at the top of the table, and hopefully we can prove that next season".
