Next season

[ETFC2001]

Might be a bit too early for ‘Next season’ posts but no Enfield Town football for 3 months is going to go by slower then anything.

I was just thinking, the National League South is looking like a gauntlet next season. I know we won’t be challenging for the league or playoffs (you never know) but it is looking very tough to even stay up in.

Torquay, Eastbourne, Ebbsfleet, Dorking, Worthing, Weston-super-Mare, Dagenham and Maidenhead, Boreham Wood or Maidstone, Chelmsford trying to establish themselves as a full time side.. and Dover, Totton and Horsham coming up. I think Hemel could push on, same with Hornchurch etc.

It is key we recruit properly in the summer.

 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Marcus only making it on for the final 2 minutes of a must-win game for Dagenham - you've got to think that he's unlikely to be retained at Gillingham and will probably be plying his trade at Step 2 next season.

Agree that NLS will be even tougher next season with the likes of Chelmsford investing heavily. The real positive though is that whatever squad we start the season with is surely going to be stronger than the squad we fielded for 4+ months last season! Plus our stock should be a little higher with Step 2 players. Also, I suspect Gavin is a bit more clued-up on the loan market as well now.

[ETFC2001]

2 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Marcus only making it on for the final 2 minutes of a must-win game for Dagenham - you've got to think that he's unlikely to be retained at Gillingham and will probably be plying his trade at Step 2 next season.

He made a mistake, and I hope he is realising that now. Of course chances like that come in a blue moon and I don’t regret him for taking it to play for a side in the 92 but I think if he stayed one more year with us or someone in step 2 to get more experience in higher league football, he would of been much better off it now. I mean, the difference from step 3 to step 2 is night and day. We saw that with the first 4 months of the season.

He won’t struggle to find offers, and he’ll probably be playing for a side up the top of our league, but it would be nice to see him back at Enfield.

2 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Plus our stock should be a little higher with Step 2 players. Also, I suspect Gavin is a bit more clued-up on the loan market as well now.

I agree. It’s all about establishing ourselves to players. We have to make our offer look the most attractive and appealing to players. Fans also have to play a part in that too though.

Edited May 5 by ETFC2001

[lovely stuff]

As i've said before i think we need to try to find the funds to be able to take a quality striker on-loan from a professional club at some point during next season . Even for two months at a time. Marcus or Mo for half a season could go a long way to securing safety next time out.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

1 hour ago, lovely stuff said:

As i've said before i think we need to try to find the funds to be able to take a quality striker on-loan from a professional club at some point during next season . Even for two months at a time. Marcus or Mo for half a season could go a long way to securing safety next time out.

Just imagine if we had more than 12 points by January!!

[lovely stuff]

13 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Just imagine if we had more than 12 points by January!!

We may well have a better start to the season but a worse finish?  With the same strength squad, we are going to be in a fight at the bottom again. I feel Gavin is becoming frustrated with the lack of quality in the team. Only very hard work by the players, hard work on the training ground, hard work in bringing in numerous loan players and Sam Youngs scoring far more than he normally would (or probably will again) saved us this time.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

1 hour ago, lovely stuff said:

We may well have a better start to the season but a worse finish?  With the same strength squad, we are going to be in a fight at the bottom again. I feel Gavin is becoming frustrated with the lack of quality in the team. Only very hard work by the players, hard work on the training ground, hard work in bringing in numerous loan players and Sam Youngs scoring far more than he normally would (or probably will again) saved us this time.

Once again, we just need to finish 5th from bottom. This means looking to finish above the likes of Salisbury, Dover, Totton and Horsham. We shall see whether Chesham can have as strong a second season. It sounds as if Slough will have a bit more £ next season, as will Hampton (under new owners) and Chelmsford (going full-time).

Realistically, unless the wheels come off for the likes of Chippenham or Tonbridge, next season is going to be tougher than this - with the advantage being that Gavin has now been there and done it.

[lovely stuff]

3 hours ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Once again, we just need to finish 5th from bottom. This means looking to finish above the likes of Salisbury, Dover, Totton and Horsham. We shall see whether Chesham can have as strong a second season. It sounds as if Slough will have a bit more £ next season, as will Hampton (under new owners) and Chelmsford (going full-time).

Realistically, unless the wheels come off for the likes of Chippenham or Tonbridge, next season is going to be tougher than this - with the advantage being that Gavin has now been there and done it.

Progress would be finishing with more points and a better league position than last season. Avoiding relegation again would also be acceptable in our second only season at this level.

Listening to the chairman he seems to feel that mid-table at Step 2 is realistically our ceiling level at the moment with the way the club is currently set up and the revenue coming in. But just as progression has been slow and steady up to this point from our formation i hope for continued stability with hopefully continued slow progression, even if it takes a decade or two again. What we do not want is to ever feel we are falling backwards and that surviving relegation at Step 2 was the high point for the club.

Edited May 7 by lovely stuff

[The Crowing Cockerel]

51 minutes ago, lovely stuff said:

Progress would be finishing with more points and a better league position than last season. Avoiding relegation again would also be acceptable in our second only season at this level.

Listening to the chairman he seems to feel that mid-table at Step 2 is realistically our ceiling level at the moment with the way the club is currently set up and the revenue coming in. But just as progression has been slow and steady up to this point from our formation i hope for continued stability with hopefully continued slow progression, even if it takes a decade or two again. What we do not want is to ever feel we are falling backwards and that surviving relegation at Step 2 was the high point for the club.

Agreed. Bear in mind that Aveley, Bath and Chelmsford made the play-offs in 2024. St Albans and Dartford made the play-offs the season before that. I'm not suggesting we will do that BUT, its not always the largest budgets which occupy the top 7 spots.

Next season the fans don't have to stump up for a new stand (- although it might be nice to look at the terracing next). Perhaps we should consider contributing to the playing budget through crowd-funding? About time we had a cup run too!

[ETFC2001]

Does anyone know when our retained list will be posted? It’d be nice to see some names for next season

[djwilf]

Well the gk coach has hung up his gloves so this will be a big loss.

[Nobster180]

It would be nice if the squad is announced early this year, as we know what we need to do, That Joe Taylor from ramsgate has left them, obviously would have a club sorted but he’s top draw, would love Marcus back if he’s released by Gillingham, hopefully he might look at what Mo Faal done when he returned to us from Bolton to kick start his career,Liam Nash has left Worthing too, wouldn’t mind him either!! but hopefully we can get some top drawer striker in next year and a playmaker in midfield then I think we’ll be ok, any way we will see what happens soon enough!!

up the towners!!

[The Crowing Cockerel]

50 minutes ago, Nobster180 said:

It would be nice if the squad is announced early this year, as we know what we need to do, That Joe Taylor from ramsgate has left them, obviously would have a club sorted but he’s top draw, would love Marcus back if he’s released by Gillingham, hopefully he might look at what Mo Faal done when he returned to us from Bolton to kick start his career,Liam Nash has left Worthing too, wouldn’t mind him either!! but hopefully we can get some top drawer striker in next year and a playmaker in midfield then I think we’ll be ok, any way we will see what happens soon enough!!

up the towners!!

Can't imagine our budget will stretch to Taylor or Nash. Lets hope Gav can unearth a hidden gem - or bring back Jake Cass!

[ETFC2001]

Just for arguments sake: Are we happy with another season like last where we stay up by the skin of our teeth? Or do we need to see improvement in the league table for people to feel like we’re progressing? Of course it’s all about establishing ourselves at step 2 so I’ll be happy if we finish just above the relegation zone but honestly I think we could have a pretty successful campaign if we recruit properly in the summer.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

I feel we must start next season with a better squad than Gavin had assembled by August 2024. It seemed to take Gavin 6 months to work out what he needed - and where to find it. And even then he struggled to find a decent striker. I really think we can push on a little - I'm not sure my heart could cope with any final day escape! Not easy, granted, but I'd like to see us getting around 57 points. So basically turning 3 of our 24 defeats into wins. I'd also like to see us putting up a bit more of a fight about the full-timers - the games against Worthing, Maidstone, Boreham Wood, Torquay spring to mind.

 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

On 07/05/2025 at 23:22, Nobster180 said:

Liam Nash has left Worthing too, wouldn’t mind him either!!

Just signed a 2-year deal at.......BILLERICAY!

Billericay have found that chucking a lot of money at the playing squad hasn't quite worked so they've decided to 'invest' even more!

Edited May 10 by The Crowing Cockerel

[Nobster180]

Getting worried already about players for next season, most teams already announcing departures etc, Nash is gone , Taylor will be announced very soon to someone near ramsgate, all we’ve got so far is pre season friendly announcement!! If I was manager I would get it done early doors where possible?

 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

13 minutes ago, Nobster180 said:

Getting worried already about players for next season, most teams already announcing departures etc, Nash is gone , Taylor will be announced very soon to someone near ramsgate, all we’ve got so far is pre season friendly announcement!! If I was manager I would get it done early doors where possible?

 

Don't think we're in a position to hand out generous contracts left right and centre! We have to be smarter and bide our time, I'm afraid.

(Joe Taylor is 34 and lives in Kent. His mate at Ramsgate has just taken over as manager of Welling... He really isn't the right fit for us.)

[ETFC2001]

https://x.com/officialclarets/status/1921581059570905525?s=46
 

A whole squad change as they gear up to go full time.. 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

2 hours ago, ETFC2001 said:

https://x.com/officialclarets/status/1921581059570905525?s=46
 

A whole squad change as they gear up to go full time.. 

I'd certainly take Charlie Ruff, but suspect £ might be an issue.

Ryan Blackman? His form has dipped over the past couple of seasons (injuries and other truly unfortunate matters,) but might be worth bringing him back?