Heed boss won’t rest on his laurels
CONFIDENT IN HIS SQUAD BUT STILL ‘PLANNING FOR EVERY EVENTUALITY’
GATESHEAD boss Mike Williamson will have to weave his magic again in the league above on what is set to be one of the bottom three budgets in the National League.
The Tynesiders were crowned Vanarama National League North champions on Saturday after the 2-1 win over Hereford in front of a 4,129-strong crowd at the International Stadium.
That is the biggest attendance for a regular league for half a century.
It was also their first silverware for 36 years and plans are already afoot for the return to non-league’s top table next season.
Gateshead will receive an extra £50,000 from central funding but face a host of trips to the likes of Yeovil, Southend, Torquay and Maidstone.
Ahead of the play-offs Halifax is the shortest trip for the Heed – and that is 115 miles.
Williamson said: “There will be more overnight stays and a lot more travelling, and that brings added costs. I expect the budget to be around what we have operated on this season, which was a mid-table one in National League North.”
A budget just below £400,000 is the likely scenario. AFC Fylde, who finished third, had a budget more than double Gateshead’s. Some part-time clubs had a bigger outlay, putting into sharp focus Williamson’s achievement in guiding Gateshead to the title.
Being one of a handful of professional clubs strengthened the former Magpie’s hand, an advantage they won’t have in the National League.
Almost every club in the fifth tier is fully professional, but Williamson understands the constraints he has to work under at Gateshead.
“I’d love to have a bigger budget, of course,” he said, “but the Board have given me this opportunity and I’m grateful for that. “I answer to them and they give me money for players, and we do the best we can on the budget we are given. To be fair, every time I’ve said we need to bring someone in they have backed me, but ultimately it is their money.
“This season has been brilliant and we’ve now got the National League to look forward to.” Gateshead’s level-headed playermanager is hoping he does not have too much work to do in the transfer market. That will depend to some extent on whether the ambitious Tynesiders can hold on to their main assets.
Macaulay Langstaff scored 32 goals and Cedwyn Scott 26 in a side that rattled up 114 goals in a memorable campaign.
The club is understood to have turned down a £50,000 bid from National League title-chasers Stockport County for Langstaff in mid-season.
Langstaff went on to win the National League North Golden Boot and also Gateshead’s player of the year and player’s player of the year. Gateshead extended Langstaff and Scott’s contracts until the end of next season and holding on to the pair will be key to their prospects in 2022/23. Williamson added: “Our forwards have scored a lot of goals and with that brings attention as they have been in the shop window.
“The money now in the National League is ridiculous and it only brings a club to put an offer in.
“You just have to look at the size of some of the clubs in the league, and some could triple or quadruple the players wages. “When you’re looking at that kind of stuff you have to have
a list for every position as you never know what can happen. We know the amount of scouts that have been coming to our games and you’ve just got to plan for every eventuality.
“When you’re scoring 25 goals plus, as Langstaff and Scott have done, you are going to raise eyebrows. They are at a good age as well so there are going to be clubs that are alerted, but will it work for the player, geographically, and who the manager is can be another factor.
“Our strikers are all under contract, so it would have to be a fit for us as well, and the players all enjoy it here at Gateshead.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have every confidence we will have virtually the same squad, but we’ve got to have a contingency plan so we don’t come unstuck.
“I want the four strikers still in the building all scoring goals, relishing the competition and frustrated
when they don’t start a game. Going to get a striker isn’t our top priority as I hope the four we have now will all be available next season. But we don’t know that, so we have to be aware we may have to bring someone in if someone does move on.” Williamson has already retained the services of many of his title-winning squad with more announcements to be made.
Now the club is back in the National League loan deals will be more attractive to parent clubs. Recruitment last summer was excellent. A repeat this close season will put Gateshead in good stead to make their mark at the higher level.
The last time they were in the Conference Premier in 2018/19 they finished ninth before they suffered a points deduction and demotion. After ripping up the division below Williamson’s for next season will be more than just survival.
When you’re scoring 25 goals plus, as Langstaff and Scott have done, you are going to raise eyebrows Mike Williamson