ARMSTRONG CALLS FOR SPARTAN UNITY
BLYTH SPARTANS manager Alun Armstrong has given a blunt assessment of the challenges facing the club as they look to avoid second season syndrome in the National League North. The former Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough striker led the Northumberland outfit to a solid tenth-placed finish in their first season back in at Step 2 for five years. Hopes were high that Armstrong would be allowed to strengthen his squad in the summer to stage a genuine playoff push this season. But an ill-timed budget cut, coupled with a number of injury problems ahead of the season opener against Hereford this summer, have thrown the manager’s plans up in the air. Armstrong had just one fit centre-back going into the final days of pre-season with Jordan Watson and Ryan Hutchinson still battling back from long-term knee problems.
His budget is slightly higher than the one he worked with in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League but has still been reduced from last year, meaning Armstrong missed out on several key targets.
Defensive issues were eased slightly with the loan signings of Sunderland centre-back Sam Brotherton and Hartlepool United’s Aaron Cunningham, although the latter was suspended for the trip to Edgar Street.
A comprehensive 3-0 openingday defeat against the Bulls was quickly followed by a 2-1 home loss against Bradford Park Avenue, but an incredible 8-1 victory over ten-man Chester yesterday came as a huge boost for Armstrong ahead of fixtures against north-east neighbours Darlington and Alfreton Town.
“It’s been my toughest time as a manager and it’s not just bringing players in, it’s trying to move this club forward,” said the Spartans boss.
“I delayed in signing a new contract because I wanted to see if we were genuine about moving on.
“I want us to look professional, to have a base, a training pitch we can use and one that helps us get the most out of players.
“I am still working hard to get players in and I signed that new contract knowing what the budget was but all of a sudden the expense of players has gone through the roof.
“I can’t get near clubs at our level or players at clubs in the Northern League, you have to pay more to get them to travel so we have to sell the club more. We try sell the club as a progressive club but it is tough because at the moment, I don’t believe we are.
“It’s not through lack of trying, but we need help from everyone connected with the club.”
Spartans came within four points of securing an unlikely play-off spot in the National League North last season, taking their fight to extend their season to the final day of the campaign thus provoking discussion about whether or not the club is ready for promotion into Non-League’s top-tier.
Armstrong is far from convinced and believes a lot of work has to be done behind the scenes at Croft Park over the coming months.
“This club isn’t ready for the next level,” he added. “On the pitch we were getting there but off the pitch there is so much work to be done.
“We keep saying everyone knows the club, I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t think it was a progressive club.
“But at the moment we are at a standstill. We have a good fanbase and we hit the target we wanted for the budget.
“It goes back to community engagement and I feel like there is a disconnection between the town and the club. We should be getting young kids from local schools involved here and enjoying being around the club.
“I wanted to start an academy, like other clubs, to bring in more money. I mentioned it 18 months ago and looked into connecting with a school in the town but nothing got done. I can help but I can only do so much.”
Armstrong has been a big success since he was chosen to succeed Tom Wade as Spartans manager.
He led the club to the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League title and the Northumberland Senior Cup within eight months of taking charge and helped them consolidate in the last season’s National League North.
Now, as a hugely popular figure with the club’s supporters, the boss has issued a rallying call for everyone connected with the club to get involved in pushing the club forward amid the challenging circumstances.
“I am still totally committed and I haven’t signed the deal just to leave,” admitted Armstrong. “I will continue to work hard and I wouldn’t be in it if we couldn’t do it.
“Things are tough, fees and wages of Non-League players are mad now, I wish I was still a player.
“I will keep working to try and get this club moving but I need support from everyone connected with Blyth Spartans.”