‘I FEEL SO SORRY FOR MERTHYR’, SAYS BORO BOSS DAY
SPENCER DAY saw his Farnborough side paired with league rivals Merthyr Town in a tasty Trophy tie and declared “I feel sorry for them”.
But this was no awkward attempt at arrogance or mind games towards his Welsh visitors, the Boro chief is genuinely sympathetic at Merthyr’s plight at having to make the 300-mile round trip to north-east Hampshire for the second time this season. “It’s not fair on them, I feel for them, I really do,” said Day, who took the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South side to the quarter-finals in 2015, losing to eventual winners North Ferriby United.
“The early rounds of FA Trophy are not very financially viable for clubs at the best of times with traditionally lower attendances etc, so to make travel 300 miles for a first qualifying round tie is very harsh.
“With 28 teams in our half of the draw, surely there could have been a bit more time and thought gone into regionalising these games a bit more?
“We know how they will be feeling, we have to go all the way down to Bideford two years ago, it’s a long day for these players who have to leave their homes early, invariably drive to these places and get back late, often without seeing their families.
“Selfishly speaking, we are delighted to be at home but the last thing we want is a replay and having to go to Wales on a Tuesday or Wednesday night so we’ll be going all out to win the game at the first attempt.
“Merthyr beat us 1-0 here a few weeks ago and are a good side, so we know it won’t be easy, but we’re a good side too and we’re looking forward to trying to avenge that defeat.”
Day celebrates his seven-year anniversary at Cherrywood Road next month, but despite being put through a rollercoaster ride of emotions at the club – an era littered with failed takeovers, enforced double relegations and points deductions – the Boro chief is no closer to experiencing the seven-year inch.
His side are still threat them
ening a play-off place in an extremely tight Southern Premier Division after a steady, albeit inconsistent, start to the season and Day is predicting a bright future ahead for the club – provided he can keep the talents scouts at bay.
No fewer than four bids have already been rejected for tricky winger Michael Fernandes, right, while striker Andrew Sealey-Harris, recently signed on a permanent deal from Premier League Wolves, is another in the spotlight.
Day knows that keeping young talents like these are key to the club’s ambitions.
“Michael is attracting half a dozen scouts every game and it’s only a matter of time really before he steps into the professional game,” the former Chertsey Town boss added.
“We are a selling club and as much as we need these guys to help us achieve something this season, it will be wrong to stand in their way if the right offer comes along to suit all parties. “But, if we can keep talented young players like Michael and Andrew at the club while adding a bit more experience to the squad, then I think we have a chance.”