Scott Davies

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I’m really not fussed about players coming from this level or that level. I’d much rather players that have a hunger and desire and are playing football as they’re aiming to progress in their careers. The ones dropping down the levels usually have nothing to play for other than getting weighed in financially because of where they’ve been and they have no chance of getting back into the full time game, unless they’re a good age still. I’ve been there myself with people throwing silly amounts at me 7-8 years ago as that was what I wanted at the time, but had no real desire to work my way back into the professional game. Football was just a bit of fun and something to pay my bills. I then found the love again some years later… Oxford City had success this year and believe that two of their regular starters (Parker & Carroll) had ever played in the football league.I’d much rather lads who going to give everything, on the pitch and wanting to learn. With regards to the signing for next week, it’s a player who has just been promoted from Step 3 to 2 but doesn’t want to play in the Conference North. He’s got very good experience having played 100 games minimum at Conference South.

He’s been let go. Felt as though it was best for him to go and play regularly 👍🏼

Ogo, Tyrese, Walshy - the door has been left open for them to come in and prove their worth. Still would like to see more from them. But in the meantime they’ll be talking to other clubs. Bushy - undecided as to what he wants to do. He’s got a litlun and the travelling is an issue. Think he’s adapted extremely well to the NLS and yet again fitted in very well with the lads. So he’s torn with his decision. Elliot - he’s been great for us, and a real big part of the changing room too. He’s currently weighing up the options he has elsewhere as we spoke about a possible deal but unsure it would work for him. So just left that one to see how it pans out. Hally - he will depart. He’s had a lot of offers at step 3. He’s never put a foot wrong for us but he wants to play every week and can’t guarantee him that with who we have brought in. I’ve welcomed him back pre season but unlikely to happen. It’s that time of the season where everyone is in limbo, but as always I’ll try and keep you all in the loop as best I can. 👍🏼

3… there’s another on the way next week Friday. 👍🏼

Who am I to comment on another player… but, if you wanted my opinion having watched and played against Maidenhead a number of times over the past 9 years, they play a completely different style to what I would choose to play. Also, players dropping from the national league premier demand a wage that starts with a number that usually is quite off putting as I’ve found out this summer! There’s no doubt that Ryan brings a different dimension to the game for that he does, and that’s effective for Maidenhead. He’s done very well for them! But for us, we want to be more possession based, especially at home on the 3G and I wouldn’t say that is where his strength lies. Togs could do both, on and off the ball. We have someone lined up who I’m hoping we can get across the line who in my opinion is exceptional at both sides of the game. Temi is a prime example. He told me that things we asked him to do whilst at Slough, he would get hammered for doing at Maidenhead as it’s low risk football at the club just down the road. Yet again, I have no issues with that as it’s clearly been successful for them and if I could achieve half of what Dev has then I’d be over the moon! As for Josh, he would give us everything wherever he played, but I have one or two things in pre season that I’d like to look at with Jeanmal Prosper and Joe Dandy so we will wait and see how that goes in a couple of different formations. It’s a game of opinions and nobody is ever right or wrong, that’s the beauty of it!

Well said 3spirit 😀 We will be announcing 3 new players this week that are on board, and 1 new signing next week once he’s back from holiday. 👍🏼 Don’t be asking me what positions please Glen, let it be a surprise! 😅

And as for the fee for loans, it all depends on what you can get away with! Sometimes it’s free, sometimes it’s 100%! Depends know you know and the relationship you have with the club! A good relationship or good contacts certainly help from what I’ve learned so far.

It won’t be a 17/18 year old! Let me tell you that much 😅

Mickel had 2 other step 2 clubs and a few step 3 clubs. Rhys is genuinely one of the nicest lads you could wish to meet but has probably been a victim of us being able to get in a loan keeper (Will Dennis) at no cost at all. It’s one of those positions where I’ve been offered 7-8 keepers from Premier League/Championship clubs yet again for next season at zero cost. It’s allows us to spend more money in other areas of the pitch which obviously helps. We will have a few in on trial during pre-season to see who we go with. An important position that we must get right!

Small update for everyone… I’ve watched Mickel a number of times over the past couple of years, and also a few times again this season. He’s always been a problem for the opposition with his work rate, pace and power etc. The most exciting part is that he’s nowhere near the finished article and think he will only get better! Delighted that he’s chosen us over a couple of others. We’ve got 3 more over the line (in addition to Mickel) yesterday/today. Two will be announced Wednesday next week I hope once we can get the players to the ground, and the other is on holiday right now so could take a week or two to get it boxed off. Slowly but surely getting there but it certainly takes time! But thought I’d update you all. Scotty!

Got very good contacts at all of those clubs, with them being my old clubs, but none will send a first team down to play on the 3G pitch. It’s always, ‘we can send the 18’s’. So to have Brentford B and Charlton 23’s were better than Reading U18’s for example. Frustrating but it is what it is!

I don’t even know what I’m having for dinner tonight! Let me work on these lot first 😅 and then we’ll see!

Some are on holiday, some are delaying because of agents trying to get better deals etc elsewhere. The fun and joys of the summer time in football! 😅 Two strikers, one wide man, one central midfielder and a centre half. If all goes to plan! Rhys is the only player we haven’t spoke to yet as he has the FA Vase final this weekend so I think it’s only right he concentrates on that first.

Haha! Glen, I can assure you there is NO pressure to play A23 players. They’re two good, young players who if good enough will be involved, if not they’ll develop in their careers by going on loan. It’s just really useful to bolster the squad with extra numbers as I believe last season we really missed having a youth set up to turn to. Had some really good news this weekend so hopefully 3-4 more new signings next week. Just need to tie a few things up here and there. I’ve been relatively quiet on here we it’s been crazily busy, but I’m sure the new signings once done/announced, people will be happy with.

Definitely a typo! Apologies. We’ve made 3 offers to players outside of the club so far. Can’t see there being any announcements any time soon as players like you said can’t sign anything yet and things can change in the mean time! In terms of our lads though from this season, I’m pretty hopeful that all the ones we want to stay, will stay.

Will definitely bring in another but it’ll be someone that is just a coach, not a player/coach. Middle of this week we should be able to confirm the players that have been retained, well, as many of them as possible. All seem extremely positive so far so fingers crossed.Just need to dot the i’s and cross the G’s on a couple.

The word ‘demands’ is extremely broad. It’s not just a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday job. There’s a lot more to being an assistant manager and coach than just being at training. It’s everything else that goes with it. There’s no fall out at all, everyone is on good terms, just stop any rumours spreading! Togs has two children already and another on the way, with a full time job to go with plus adding STFC duties to that, it’s a hell of a lot! I would have loved to have been able to keep him around, but after discussions he decided it was best to step away. It might be football that he still focuses on, but probably more so in just a player role, or even kicking on with his personal training business with his brother that he’s determined to grow. Big loss for sure but will make sure we get a worthy replacement!

Slim! George signed an extension with Bromley the day before he came on loan to us, so he has another year. Francis, there’s conversations to be had. He has another year on his deal with Aldershot but he needs to speak with them first to see where he’s at in their plans. If he was available come the summer, he might then want to remain full time somewhere, if he wanted to go part time again then I believe we would have a decent chance. Soon see. 👍🏼

Option is in Maidenhead’s favour.

Lenchy was told about this on the forum and messaged me to say ‘Spencer only said well played to me after the game. No tapping up’. 👍🏼 Lenchy wanted to clear that one up! 😅

The first two months I was under budget as I didn’t want to sign people for the sake of signing people, and like you say, there was a lot of uncertainty with everything going on. There was also a lack of players that were available. I think Bakes and Unders had the same approach and would spend the money as if it was their own and wouldn’t be wasteful or overspend on players. That’s always something I’ve had in the back of my mind and tried to stick to that. The last few months, particularly Franny’s injury, meant that I asked for a replacement and the club/board/owners backed me which took us over the budget that was first agreed. Give it another few days, maybe a week and hopefully they will all agree that it was the right decision and it’s paid off to allow us to do that bit of business! Having better attendances certainly helps when I go and ask for extra, that’s for sure! 😅 Nothing has been sorted/signed with regards to next season but I wasn’t ever looking that far ahead to be honest, it would’ve been stupid to have done that with our league position. I had one aim and hopefully we have achieved that.

I need to get better at this, happens every week 😅 It’s quite nice that most of the lads tell me when it happens though. Still piss poor IMO as it shouldn’t be happening but some managers have no decorum. Lenchy won’t be going anywhere… I’ll bank on that!

In reply to some of the comments… I can’t pretend to be happy when I wasn’t. The interview was 10 minutes after the final whistle and at the moment in time I felt flat. We’ve had two results in the past 3 games where we’ve had 3 points snatched from us and sometimes that’s difficult to take. This morning however, it was a new day. I’ve woken up feeling optimistic and always will be while we are in the fight we are in. Some people might argue, or say that I have to remain positive at all times, especially in front of the camera where people can watch it back, but sometimes emotion is good fuel. After yesterdays game, I have never seen a changing room so deflated, but to me that’s a good thing because it shows how much losing a point hurts. We are lucky to have the group that we do and I wouldn’t change any of them which hopefully speaks volumes about the togetherness we have.

Like I said in my interview, it was a day that we could have only dreamt of! That’s by far and away the most complete performance I’ve been involved in for a very long time. The lads were superb, along with you guys in support! Given ourselves a great chance now but it’s not over yet. Hopefully we can get a positive result in Taunton and see where we are at thereafter. Scotty!