County’s frontline set for summer overhaul
JAMES Gannon reckons that a “major overhaul” of his attack will be needed for County to push on in the 2017/18 campaign.
The biggest thorn in County’s side has undoubtedly been a lack of goals throughout the campaign, with star man Danny Lloyd ending his superb season on 29 goals; the highest by a County forward in a single season since Luke Beckett’s tally of 28 back in 2003.
The Hatters’ next highest goalscorer was young midfielder Jimmy Ball, who finished on a tally of eight goals in all competitions.
County’s strike force of Kay Odejayi, Sefton Gonzales and Josh Amis ended the heart-breaking season on eight goals between the three.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that a lack of creativity and a cutting edge has been an issue.
“We have the best defensive record in the league, but whether it was Saturday’s game or the 42 games of the season, we haven’t really had any consistent creativity going forward.
“Obviously, we all expected John Marsden to do better in terms of his goalscoring tally this season, and we haven’t had enough from the number nines or number tens.
“I’m really pleased that we’ve got a core group of players signed up for next season, but we do need a major overhaul if the frontline and I’m excited about the players we can attract to the club.
“It’s been a very competitive league, and it’s only going to be more difficult next year.
“It’s very tough when there’s only two promotion spots, whether it’s going up as champions or as winners of the play-offs. Both are a huge ask.”
Whilst former the Northwich boss expressed his “bitter disappointment” that County slipped up with the chance to move into the play-offs firmly in their own hands, Gannon did illustrate just how difficult a promotion ‘too soon’ could be for several National League North sides.
County will remain a part-time club for the coming season, but with an extra night of training already added to Gannon’s routine, the Hatters boss admitted the aim is to build towards a fulltime future for his side – but did warn that it may come at a cost, with plenty of interest from current full-time sides in key men Danny Lloyd and Lewis Montrose.
“I saw something about Darlington along the lines of how the play-offs would have earned them £50,000 this year, but promotion would have cost them £500,000.
“I think that’s where we have to take a step back and realise how expensive it is to be competitive in the division above.
“We need to let the dust settle and build a very good part-time side next season, but a side which can grow and develop into a full time side going forward.
“We knew this season that we could only attract players from this level or below, and that’s where we want to go and look for players who have the desire to play and to improve.”