SINNOTT’S OUT TO REDRESS THE BALANCE
AT the turn of the year, Gainsborough Trinity had never been promoted or relegated in their entire 145-year history – all that has now changed.
Trinity’s slide from National League North to the Evo-Stik Premier last year put a negative blot on their proud but unique historical feat.
Now, however, manager Lee Sinnott is determined to settle the score and is confident that his side are more than capable of competing at the summit of the Northern Premier League this year.
A solid start to the campaign has been marred somewhat by recent defeats against Stalybridge Celtic, South Shields and Scarborough Athletic, but Sinnott says his team have what it takes to recover and make a charge back to where he believes they belong.
“We want to return to the National League North as soon as possible,” he told The NLP.
“It was an extraordinary stat that the club had not been promoted or relegated during their entire 145-year history before last season, so we made a bit of history that I would rather not have done.
“I am an ambitious person and getting relegated hurt a lot but we have had to dust ourselves down and push to put things right.”
The Trinity chief quickly got to work on a squad overhaul over the summer, bringing in valued experience such as goalkeeper Jon Stewart, defender Joe Maguire and striker Ross Hannah.
This week, the boss dipped into the transfer market again to bring in former Doncaster midfielder Harry Middleton to the Northolme, and he remains confident the squad is coming together.
Sinnott added: “There was no use feeling sorry for ourselves because the immediate weeks after the season finishes are some of the most important weeks of the year as it is a time when the majority of players tend to become available.
“I was very pleased with how our summer transfer business went. I kept hold of about a third of the squad from last season and I think we have managed to improve in areas that possibly let us down a little bit last year.
“The squad is constantly evolving though and you can’t sit still – I am always on the lookout for new talent that will improve the team.”
Sinnott has tasted previous success at this level, guiding Farsley Celtic to promotion from the Northern Premier League back in 2006, before helping The Villagers reach the Conference in the very next season.
But he has warned that promotion will not be easy, insisting the quality of the Northern Premier League has stepped up significantly over the past decade.
“There is no question it is of a far higher standard than it was a few years ago,” the ex-Altrincham boss said. “You used to be able to narrow down the teams that will be in contention at the top of the table to around four or five but now there are lots and lots of sides that are capable of winning promotion.
“The teams are stronger and the football is better, but I am confident we can rise to the challenge.
“We have taken a bit of time to adapt, but nobody has got away from us yet and we are still very much in control of our own destiny. If we keep working hard then I hope that we will be there or thereabouts.”