THIS IS NO SUPERSONIC CASH COW
AMBITIOUS Concord Rangers have generated headlines with their new management team and signings this summer – but assistant boss Jack Midson insists they aren’t throwing bundles of cash around.
Manager Sammy Moore and No.2 Midson led Bostik Premier outfit Leatherhead to sixth place last term – missing out on the play-offs on goal difference – and the FA Cup second round.
It was an impressive debut season for the rookie managerial double act, and it was no great surprise others took notice. Concord Rangers offered them the chance to step up a level to National League South and it proved an offer too good to resist.
Moore and Midson have already been busy. As well as returning to Leatherhead to snap up the likes of Sean Clohessy, Frazer Shaw and Lee Minshull, they’ve also recruited goalkeeper Sam Beasant (Chelmsford), Billy Knott (Lincoln), Jack Parkinson (Welling), Ryan Hayes (Dartford), Kojo Awotwi (VCD Athletic) and Matthew Neary (Millwall academy).
The calibre of those captures hasn’t gone unnoticed, but Midson dismisses talk the Beachboys now have a bumper warchest.
“We had a good year at Leatherhead, it was a learning curve,” said the 34-yearold former AFC Wimbledon and Oxford United striker, who netted 30 goals for the Tanners last year. “It was a stepping stone to move up the ladder.
“We only really dropped down to that level to manage. A lot of the players were more than capable of playing higher, and some had played higher before. We believe that they were coming to play for us and it’s the same this year.
“People think we are throwing money around – we aren’t. We’ve got one of the lowest budgets in the league. How are we doing it? It’s because the players want to play for us. They know we do things right and allow them to express their opinions rather than managers shooting them down.”
And Midson is adamant there is little pressure on the Canvey Island-based outfit to be up among the front-runners this term in what looks like being an extremely hard-fought National League South race. Last term they finished 17th under boss Adam Flanagan, a mere four points above the drop zone.
“We have made some good signings on a small budget,” he explained. “I don’t think we are under any pressure.
“There are some very strong teams – Billericay and Dulwich should have already been higher, and Woking and Torquay have come down.
“We would be happy to finish above halfway in our first season, but you have to aim for something. We are passionate and why shouldn’t we aim for the play-offs? If we fall short, we do it next year.”
One advantage is that there are, once again, extra play-off places on offer in National League South next year. Instead of needing to make the top five, they can target the top seven.
“It can only be good for football,” added Midson. “If you were in tenth place near the end of the season, you were pretty much playing pre-season type games. It keeps things going for longer for more teams.”