Stallard backing Magpies to make big push for promotion
FORMER NOTTS STRIKER HAS HIGH HOPES FOR CAMPAIGN
FORMER Notts County striker Mark Stallard believes Luke Williams’ side stand as good a chance as any of achieving promotion back to the Football League this season.
While Kyle Wootton and Callum Roberts have left, Macaulay Langstaff and Sam Austin have arrived as the Magpies aim for promotion after missing out in the National League play-offs last season.
With just over a week to ago until the team’s first game against Maidenhead United, York City will provide the final pre-season test today.
Stallard, who turned out over 200 times for the Magpies, says returning to the Football League must be the key aim once again this season.
With the bookmakers currently seeing Notts as second favourites, expectation is high at Meadow Lane.
“It’s absolutely where they should be,’’ said the 47-year-old.
“They should be right up there looking to get promoted, it doesn’t really matter where the bookies have them.
“I think the bookies base it on a lot of things considering Wexham’s strong finish and all the money they have, they are probably rightly favourites.
“But Notts are rightly not too far behind them, as they are looking to strengthen and go that little bit further this season.
“There is a fine line between the top clubs and they will all be pushing. Plenty more teams will be believing that they can take one of those two promotions places or maybe have a go through the playoffs.
“I don’t see it being too different from last season. The teams that get relegated get replaced with teams that come in on a high so there are always ones to watch. Gateshead, Dorking and the others you know are going to come in with confidence and its all about how they adapt, how they step up, the same can be said about the players and how they make the step up.
“How a team can make that transition and likewise for all the other team. They will look to strengthen.
“There will be the usual rotation of players, some teams that make more changes than others.
“It’s all about who can get those wins and get the points on the board and not have too many blips throughout the season.
“I’m always optimistic heading into the start of the season, they have to be finishing or looking to finish in that number one spot.
“You would imagine anyone that finishes above Wrexham this season will be there or thereabouts. But you look at past history and it takes 25-plus wins to give yourself a fighting chance to get up there.
‘’Last season Stockport County won 30 games and had a great run after a not so good start to the season after they changed their manager.
“Each year you look at what’s gone before it and use that as a benchmark, that’s where we have to aspire to be.
“And there is no reason why Notts can’t be there but it is very difficult as there are a lot of clubs up there that will fancy beating Notts to it and take the mantle of being champions.”