Interview with Barry Ashby on Yourthanet.co.uk ...

[Porka]

Am I wrong then MF?

[MargateFan]

Time will tell.

 

At the moment it is all same old same old.

 

I have watched the ressies, and yes, there are some guys in there with potential, but sometimes this needs time and nurture. The same may be said of under 18s and sunday league players. Fine. But we only see them matched with players at the same level. Can they make the step up? Yes, some may, but have they got the nous and the guile to match some of the old stagers that are in the opposing teams?

Ramsgate have done very well on local talent, to be sure, but it has been about 10 years in the cooking. Can Margate fans be patient for that long? I don't think so. Patience is not something I have noticed in spades on the terraces. And is there a vast resource of untapped talent in Thanet that has gone under the radar of Kent League and above clubs unnoticed? I may be wrong but I don't think so.

So we are now a development club, and that is fine if we recognise it, and do not over-expect success instantly. The club have said they have spent money the have not got in search of promotion and now need to take another road. In other words financially mis-managed for the last few years. I think it comes down to money in the end, and on that score we cannot compete any more.

What I fear most is that we start the season in a flush of optimism yet again, and then get on the backs of the young lads and the management when things do not go swimmingly. Which inevitably they won't, certainly next season. And those young lads will not deserve the barracking they will get, and it could ruin some of their careers. We have no settled squad, lack experience, and have no money. So if everything goes well it will be a near miracle. And if everthing does not go well it will be back to swearing and insults again.

 

Forgive me for not brimming with the same levels of optimism I have seen on here recently.

[michael]

A very fine line between success and failure.

Maybe Board are a bit hard on themselves when they say -financialy mis-managed ?

 

A year ago Trott snatched 6th from in january being top of the league;and this season-agree our expectations were lower-but had he signed just one decent defender in the summer when it was obvious to everyone but him-resulting in conceding three less goals across the season-we probably would have reached the play-offs and he would have been a hero.

 

having said that, i suspect that our life in conf south would not have been sustainable because of increased travel costs and other expenditure so no bad thing maybe

[michael]

Good to read that SCS will have a 'chance to impress'.

 

Not that really he has to-proven quality at this level.

Mr Ashby should imo just stick him in bgoal ;and worry about fillig the outfield postions-thats going to be tough enough-so don't worry about SCS

 

[Paul H]

Of course, my brother may be training with the reserves next season so who's to say SCS will get in, if Chris gets fit I reacon he's as good and certainly more vocal.

[Cookie]

Did Ashby say somewhere Paul Smith would be playing for us this season coming.?

 

As for youngsters getting stick.I cant see how ANYONE,whether it be early season or late season,can possibly put them down no matter how they perform.I for one won't be thats for sure.

Expectations on my part are way down for this coming season to what they have always been,promotion.

I hope others feel the same way too & act accordingly.

[Andy .]

All i want Cookie is a settled squad this season with plenty of confidence restored to it so they can push on to hire things the following season . Its going to take a while to restore everything that has been blown apart at the club but if Barry and Paul have the know how and Knowledge to talk the squad into believing themselves then im sure we will have something to be happy about in the near future . This time round though the new management have to be given TIME to prove themselves , they must not be put under intence pressure to attchive instantly or it will backfire straight away .

Roy keane did it at Sunderland when they were at the bottom of the Championship with no money so why can`t Ashby at Margate do the same . All the board have to do is back him 100% this time and we will get results not yet but they will come . Up the Gate .