MEECHAN’S ON THE UP
CONSETT manager Terry Mitchell is predicting an exciting second half to the Northern League Division One season as a host of clubs challenge for the three promotion places.
ALEX MEECHAN saw his Stafford Rangers side finally bring their six-match losing streak to an end – and predicted the start of a surge up the table.
Rangers lifted themselves off the bottom of the Northern Premier League last Saturday with two goals from Jake Charles earning a 2-0 win over Radcliffe – a first home success of the season.
It was a welcome boost to a Rangers side who have netted just 14 goals from their 17 matches before yesterday – the worst in the division.
“The stats don’t lie, we have tried on three or four occasions to get in players that would have helped us in the final third,” co-boss Meechan told The NLP.
“But whether it be for financial reasons or logistical reasons, we weren’t able to do it. There are a few deals in the pipeline now though, which we are pretty hopeful for.”
Meechan and fellow joint manager Andy Fearn took over at Marston Road midway through last season, successfully steering the Staffordshire club away from relegation danger.
While this season has proved tougher so far, Meechan, the former Forest Green Rovers and Harrogate
midfielder is continuing to look at the positives.
“Me, as a coach, and the players are learning a lot about ourselves at the moment,” he added.
“Going through these tricky periods helps you to improve and it is my job to make sure that the lads keep their heads up.
“You can sometimes see a lack of confidence in some of the players’ body language if we go a goal down and we need to rectify that.
“It is not an excuse but we have also been really unlucky with injuries, which has meant that the starting eleven hasn’t been able to build much stability.”
Meechan and Fearn helped turn Marston Road into a fortress at the start of 2019, unbeaten there from January all the way until the end of the campaign.
Now, Meechan is hoping to replicate that form in the second half of the season and save Stafford from relegation.
“Getting that first victory in front of our own fans has given us a huge psychological boost,” Meechan admitted.
“People say that the Christmas period is crunch time. We know that we have to make up for lost time but the board and the fans have been brilliant and we are confident that we have it in us to turn things around.”