Squad is shaping up nicely for Jim
STOCKPORT County boss Jim Gannon believes this summer’s recruitment drive has moved the Hatters ‘away from the ‘part time averageness’ he felt held the club back in the first half of last season.
Gannon has been working towards a squad of players geared up to professional rather than parttime football.
And while his recruitment process is not yet complete, he is already confident the changes in personnel will stand the club in good stead in next season’s National League North campaign.
“Our squad strengthening is never complete and the first team is, and will always be, a work in progress,” he told the club’s official website.
“We are still considering further signings that would improve the group, provide further depth or change the profile of the playing staff further towards more committed full time professionals.
“Myself, the staff and the new chief Scout Mark are working tirelessly on the important recruitment process at the club.
“We will continue to profile the changing needs at the club as we move towards full time players and look to attract the best young professional players.
“As it stands I am very pleased at the squad we have assembled and I have a great deal of trust in these players to provide further success to the club in the coming season.
“We have moved a long way from the ‘part time averageness’ that blighted the first half of last season.
“We have seen the investment in further training, with the right players, pay off in terms of consistent results over the second half of the season and that has to be recognised, embraced and continued.”
Gannon admitted that some departurtes over the summer months could impact on the club’s bid to build on the fine finish to last season, but he believes it’s the right direction to take the club and cited the fact that County’s successful run of form in the latter half of the campaign was down to a positive team ethic rather than outstanding displays from two or three key individuals.
“We know the end of season brings some enforced personal changes that will challenge the continuity of last season’s form,” he said.
“But our success was not one or two players who showed some good patches of form but the collective improvement across the group.
“I trust in the growth we have seen in so many of our young players, and wish the club to invest further in those players and attract similar.
“The age and professional profile of our playing staff has changed significantly over this window and I feel that is for the betterment of the future. And with so much work having been done this transfer window the next windows should not see such dramatic changes as we move to an increased full time environment.
“That work will continue behind the scenes, but for now our attention in the coming weeks is to continue the player’s off season plans and put in place a good pre-season.
“We will ensure the best structures, facilities, fitness and coaching schedules are in place to prepare the players for the start of the forthcoming season.
“We are conscious of the work that has to be done to bring everything together in the next eight weeks for the big start on 4th August 2018. I look forward to that work, and the season ahead with both optimism and growing confidence.”
‘We’ve moved away from the part-time averageness that blighted the first half of last season’