HOW DID YOU FEEL THE 14/15
SEASON WENT FOR YOUR TEAM?
I was delighted with the
season, promotion via the play-offs at Wembley is always great, but it had
particular significance for me as it was the first game I’d seen since early
September as I had been seriously ill in intensive care for 4 months of the
season. When I fell ill at the start of the season, we’d started poorly but by
the time I regained consciousness things were going a lot better! From
listening to reports, we thoroughly deserved the promotion, we’d matched Barnet
pretty much all the way and so to achieve promotion at the first opportunity
was just reward. It was certainly an emotional day in May at Wembley when I was
wheeled into the stadium by my Dad. We both struggled to contain things and so
the result was very much the icing on the cake.
HAVE YOU BEEN IMPRESSED WITH
THE ADDITIONS MADE DURING THE SUMMER BREAK?
I have been impressed, yes, I
think in the players we have signed, we have strengthened some of the areas
that needed it as we make the step up. Christian Montano arrives with baggage
but I suspect he has something to prove and so has the potential to be a good
signing. The other new face that I am particularly pleased with isn't really a
new face at all! Getting Chris Lines in is a great move. He was excellent on
loan for us and I think will push on again. When Chris was first with us, I have
to admit, I wasn't overly sorry to see him go, but he seems to have come back a
more mature, grounded player, that knows what he’s about which is great for us
and hopefully for him as well.
ARE THERE ANY AREAS YOU FEEL
STILL NEED STRENGTHENING?
I think there are always areas
to improve and it would be good to have more cover in the wide areas and
midfield, but Darrell Clarke has a limited budget to work with and has used the
loan market well in the past. I think we have a squad that is well balanced and
ready for the new season.
ARE THERE ANY FIXTURES THAT
YOU'RE PARTICULARLY LOOKING FORWARD TO?
The ones I can get to! With my
ongoing rehabilitation and further surgery to come, I won’t be able to get to
as many games as I would like. Obviously local rivalry is attractive, so the
games with Yeovil are always popular, and then there are the games where there
is history, so Wycombe would top a lot of fans lists.
WHICH OPPOSITION TEAM DO YOU
HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS SEASON?
I think it’s quite a tough
league to call. There are bigger clubs who you would expect to do well but
haven’t necessarily and there are the smaller clubs that have exceeded expected
positions. I think Plymouth could have a good year and Barnet, who came up with
us will look to maintain the momentum.
WHICH PLAYERS AMONG YOUR SQUAD
SHOULD WE BE LOOKING OUT FOR THIS TERM?
We were very solid at the back
last year and I expect that to continue. Lee Brown at left back and Tom Parkes
at centre back have real potential. Chris Lines in midfield is an excellent
signing and will be one to watch along with Stuart Sinclair, who, if he can
stay fit will run and run all day long and is fast becoming a fans favourite.
Up front we have Jermaine Easter, who we haven’t really seen the best of
because of injury, maybe this could be his year?
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'LL END
UP AT THE END OF THE SEASON?
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