With pre-season training due to start later this month, we’ve caught up with Matt for a close-season update.
Matt, we’re into June have you been able to get any rest?
Unfortunately, this is the busiest time for me as manager. So I haven’t had a chance to take a break as there is always so much to do if we are to continue progressing as a group, plus I have also changed jobs too since the season ended!
Have you been able to properly take a moment and reflect on what you, the management team and the squad achieved last season?
I made the decision once the title was won to really take everything in leading up to collecting the trophy and it was a very special feeling, which felt amazing. I spent a lot of time going over the season’s pictures and videos we had and really took in what we had achieved as a group. It’s gonna live in my memories forever and gives us the fuel to push for more success moving forwards.
How have conversations been with existing and potential new players?
Myself, Webby and Adam having been having conversations with a number of new targets which have been going well in general and I am pleased with a few players that have committed so far. We wanted to give the existing group a bit of time off as they had already committed the last 44 weeks of their time and now a large group of them have returned from their end of season Ibiza trip we will start conversations this week and hope to start letting supporters know of our retained players soon.
What is this part of the close season like for managers?
Absolutely manic! We’re focussing on every detail and making sure what we did last season is improved upon as a proposition for incoming and retained players, we’re organising pre-season fixtures which has been a bit more challenging this year than previous seasons, so there’s no real time to rest on your laurels as you will miss the boat on your targets, and others are sniffing around wanting your existing group.
You’ve added Adam Barnard to your management team, what will he bring to the group?
Yes, I have known Adam for quite some time and I actually tried to sign him many years ago when he was playing! Adam has a great knowledge of the CCL North having spent some time there as a coach at Burnham. He’s a real winner, a good coach and will add a lot to the management team and I feel fortunate that he chose to come to us over some of the amazing offers he had on the table.
The league structure is all now confirmed and we’ll be competing in the Combined Counties Premier North, what are your early thoughts on that division and the clubs we’ll be up against?
It’s a good quality league and I’m looking forward to the challenges it brings for sure. We’ve got some good local games in there which will be good for the fans and I’m looking forward though to seeing how the group takes to the league and if we bring in the right type of player then I would hope that we can challenge some of the bigger sides in the league.
When are players due back for training and are you excited to get pre-season friendlies underway?
The players are due back in on the 19th June for pre season testing at the brilliant Go Perform and then kick off their normal training Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday before our pre-season games start on the 5th July.
Yeah if you don’t get excited about the games starting you’re in the wrong game to be honest. We will have a few games where we will look at various combinations and then in the latter part of pre-season we will start to bed the squad more.
One big new competition this season for the club is the FA Cup, given the record the original WEFC had in the competition, how excited are you and the squad about competing in this for the first time as WEFC?
My one big target for last season was to bring FA Cup football back to the club and I’m really looking forward to it to be honest and hopefully the draw is kind to us.
Final question, did the players all make it back from Ibiza in one piece?!
Yes, everyone made it back and I believe from conversations with Webby they had a brilliant time out there, but I have warned them to come back to pre season fit or they will be left behind!
