WE’VE NO-ONE ELSE TO BLAME
Spenny chief holds no PPG grudges
JASON AINSLEY holds no grudges about Spennymoor Town being bumped out of the play-offs on points-pergame – and has quickly reshaped his squad for next season.
As the season finale gets underway this week there may have been a feeling Spenny should be taking part too.
But honest boss Ainsley, a club legend with more than 30 years of service as both a player and manager, admits they only have themselves to blame as Gateshead swooped in to take their place.
“Our early season form killed us before the turn of the year,” he told The NLP. “The first month we didn’t win a game and it came back to bite us.
“There’s no sour grapes on my behalf. It has to be consistent and they’ve done that in the Football League and our leagues so we’ve only got ourselves to blame really for the start we had and some points dropped we shouldn’t have dropped.”
Ironically, when the season ended Spennymoor were in full flow and had lost just once in nine games.
The club was in the promotion mix once again after losing in the play-off final to Chorley on penalties the year before and it has become normal to see Durham-based side at the top end.
Upgrades
Chairman Bradley Groves has made sure Spenny keep evolving off the field too by making a host of upgrades to Brewery Fields including a new covered stand, terracing, improved safety measures, turnstiles, bars, seating areas, a relaunched club shop, Football League-standard floodlights and CCTV.
The troublesome pitch is now the best it has ever been and the improved matchday experience saw a record sale of season tickets with average crowds up 40 per cent.
“It’s a tough league and when you’re a part-time outfit,” said Ainsley. “We’ve come on leaps and bounds to where we are and everyone I speak to feels that we’re always going to be in the mix which shows the progress that has been made.
“Off the field it has been exceptional, the pitch, the ground and everything around it, it is a brilliant place to be involved in. The chairman does everything right.”
Now it’s Ainsley’s task to achieve the toughest promotion yet to the top-flight and he’s made some big changes to his squad.
Midfielder Shane Henry has left after six years with the club while winger Andrew Johnson has departed after four.
Goalkeeper Matthew Gould, defender Stephen Brogan, forwards James Roberts and Adam Boyes and right-back Jake Hibbs have also departed but Ainsley has quickly replaced them.
Stephen Thompson, a striker from Darlington, has arrived along with goalkeeper Dale Eves. Chorley left-back Adam Blakeman has signed and loan star Tyler Forbes has joined permanently from AFC Fylde.
Midfielder Jason Kennedy has also decided to stay following a loan spell from Hartlepool United plus Jamie Spencer from Guiseley.
Robert Ramshaw, Carl Magnay, Mark Anderson, James Curtis, Jamie Chandler, Nathan Buddle, Ben Mckenna all re-signed with top scorer Glen Taylor and winger Ryan Hall already under contract for the new season leaving Ainsley wanting only two more new players.
“A forward and a midfielder but we’ve done our business early, we don’t need to rush,” he added. “We’ll just wait to see if the right person comes along now.
“There were some really horrible decisions but you just have to be honest with people. Some wanted to move on because they weren’t getting enough game time and some didn’t want to leave.
“We just have to make sure the two that come in will add value to what will hopefully be a successful season.”