What’s everyone’s realistic thoughts about Witton Albion’s prospects ahead of the 2022-23 season?
Not going to be an easy one, with a resurgent Macclesfield FC likely to also be in the NPL West division.
Now that it has been confirmed that the WAFC management team of Carl Macaulay and Gary Martindale will be moving on in the near future. Thanks for all your efforts, guys! I’m assuming that all the players that they recruited will be allowed to leave/ move on.
Is there any player at the club on an actual contract?, as the new management team when they are appointed in due course, will no doubt want to recruit all their own players.
So, noting the above, can the Albion mount a realistic challenge for promotion back to the NPL Premier Division at the first attempt?
Thoughts everyone?
As documented on other threads I think we need to have a straight forward and honest debate about the future of our club and football in mid-Cheshire generally.
Over the past 30 years, we have declined from the point where we left the Central Ground to seek pastures new at Wincham Park. Those heady days of winning the NPL, FA Cup runs, Conference football, 3 FA trophy semi finals are now long since gone and since the early nineties we have had a hand to mouth existence whilst selling land at either end of the ground, and now being hemmed in by housing estates and Thor (an excellent company btw) and been relegated yet again.
During this time, we have eroded the club’s assets but barely steadied the ship. If we carry on as we are there will be no club at some point. Good people can only go so far on their own. We need help and investment, doing the same thing brings the same results and a debilitating struggle. We need a proper debate - not shouting from 2 kop ends across the length of a football field over 90 mins, but an honest and earnest debate about our club and what we can do to get a club performing well at the highest possible level.
Hopefully, we can then put a team on the pitch that is adequately funded, free the Board from the constraints they have to work under and put some joy back into this great club!!
I think we will compete but matching Macc will be very tough and there are several other good sides. I don’t see why the new mgr would not try to keep some players but of course some might leave for a higher league, more money but I would at least try to keep some:
Baldwin
Wardle
Foley
Lawrie
Mwasile
Smart
Saunders
Jebrin
Putnam
Have all got something to add plus maybe one or 2 others as squad members. Of course it depends on who wants to leave? where Carl goes and does he take players and probably most importantly, who is the new manager and what contacts does he have.
As to changes, I don’t want to put the club at risk of a takeover by a businessman! But yes we have to look at how we raise more funds for our club and I’m not sure a 3 club merger is likely to happen any time soon but conceivably, a 2 club one could happen Northwich Albion anyone?
There’s 2 debates here - next season and then beyond. Agreed, we need to build a team for next season, but that’s not the end game. We need to break out of this cycle of decline which will be the end of us at some point!
Re contracts: their would have been players on contract 5 or 6 maybe but I’m sure they would be one year deals only.
I would also try to secure Okome if available from loan club, he’s been very good since joining.
Long term develoment is hard to secure without a money man but merger might help, as would an astro-turf pitch but that needs big investment even with grants and drive the social club on might be medium term goals. Long term, maybe the future is one larger merged club but if a “fan owned club” is not that ambitious but just want to sustain the club at current levels and enjoy the odd success why wouid they merge.
And finally, Is ambition and desire to get to the best level all that important at non league level or can fans simply enjoy watching their club at any level!
Financially, Witton will not be able to compete with Macclesfield, Workington, Clitheroe and possibly Leek, whoever takes over as manager needs a good contact book.
As for C.J’s list I can see at least half of that list leaving. A manager needs appointing ASAP to give him/her the best chance possible to get their squad together because, other clubs have already started the process of contacting players.
Money is a big factor at this level and sadly, unless a financial backer appears Witton could just be treading water for a few seasons.
Not every business man will put the club at risk and maybe the chairman/committee need to look at the German model where the fans own 51% of the club, so that the club is never at risk from one person. Witton cannot just keep going season to season there needs to be a 5/10 year plan put in place to encourage fans back through the gates.
From what I’ve heard, we can certainly compete with Leek! I wasn’t saying we would keep these players but that any new mgr might want to try as they are pretty good players certainly at Div1.
I agree, would like to see the mgr in the next 2 weeks max, we have had some good applicants so far I understand but it’s all on paper until we see his signings on the field! I admit before Carl we did struggle to find a decent mgr but let’s keep our fingers crossed we find the right man to take us forward. UTA
Macclesfield FC’s plans appear to be taking shape ahead of the new season as the Silkmen have announced at least TEN Pre Season Friendlies already and have secured a number of their title-winning squad on contracts.
Wheels, Macclesfield are going to have a real go at promotion again and financially will blow every club out of the water with wages they are prepared to pay, then if they go up again they are planning on going full time.
Well organised off the field and a club with big ambitions having a financial backer isn’t always a bad thing.
In reply to ‘‘distant’’, WE are a fan-owned club. When Warrender & Lloyd tried to take over our club, we the fans(shareholders) stood together & resisted their ‘‘coup’’ with a joint effort to thwart them.
We all got together & stood firm, that is why we do not let just anybody buy shares, you have to be a proven Wittoner! One for YOU Knutsfordian, do you think 1874 would let ME buy £50,000 worth of shares?..doubtful!
Swampy what is a proven Wittoner? I know some shareholders who were given shares as a birthday present but never go near the place, I know fans who travel home and away whatever the distance or weather are they not proven Wittoners. I know shareholders that never spend a penny once inside the club and non shareholders that spend £15/20 every week excluding ticket money. WHAT is a true Wittoner? Your new chairman never went near the place until about 3 months ago is he a “proven Wittoner?” That comment is partly what is wrong with Witton.
It seems you have to have been watching since the Gentral Ground days to be classed as a proven Wittoner and be allowed an opinion, it’s almost like a secret gentleman’s club that strangers cannot join.
Well guess what, eventually all you “proven Wittoners” will sadly pass away then who looks after your precious club then?
Not me, because with that attitude I’m done with Witton Albion.