After a demanding first few months of the season, the Club's Board give their full backing to Manager, Danny Greaves.
As a club, we knew this season would be a challenge. We have been here before, like many of clubs in the local area over the years. It is a challenge on and off the pitch to compete with ‘bigger’ clubs. It should be put on record that at the end of last season the Board had a discussion about the playing budget and it was decided that we would be asking Danny Greaves to manage with the same figure that we had in the 2023-24 season despite competing at a higher level. This was clearly frustrating to us all, but the Board was not prepared to put the Club at risk by operating beyond our means.
However, when it came to putting together a squad for this season, we were unable to retain the services of two forwards who were always going to be tough to replace. We also missed our talisman, Jon Davies, in the opening weeks of the season. When he did return, we saw his impact instantly, but then he received another season ending injury. Reece Rusher also sustained a serious knee injury in a pre-season friendly, and further injuries to key players like Matt Smith and Warren Maidment have added to the trials we have faced.
When we did sign players to fit into the team structure, we were let down in the summer by the sudden departure of a signing whom we believed to be key to on-the-pitch success. A couple of other additions have not worked out for reasons which will remain private and have since left the club. In trying to build a squad, all of these challenges have been made more acute by our budgetary constraints.
The Board will stand by Danny and the management team and have given him our full backing while he works through any changes he feels are necessary to ensuring we pick up more points and give ourselves a platform to build on for the rest of this season and into the next. Danny has been in tough situations like this a couple of times over his six-year tenure. He has always rebuilt the team and made necessary changes required to compete and be successful. We have every faith he is the right man to lead us through this phase and into what we believe is an exciting future for the club.
A few weeks ago, our Chairman, Derek Graham, made it clear that, in order for the Club to progress, we need to look at obtaining new investment, The Board has been working tirelessly on this matter and, while we are not yet in a position to make an announcement, we hope to be able to do so in the not too distant future.
The Board would also like to place on record our appreciation, not only of the substantial efforts performed by our volunteers, but the unparalleled lengths to which they go for our Club. We offer our sincere thanks to the Frome Town Supporters Club for their generous support, both financial and physical. Above all else, our thanks will always go out to the supporters who follow our team, home and away, week in week out. Rest assured, it is appreciated and will be needed more than ever at this time.
By pulling together, we will get there!
The Board of FTAFC
Danny also took the time to outline his commitment to the cause and his plans for the rest of the season.
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Love the honesty of this club. Even if we go down, and I think we certainly will, I definitely think that 'Greavsie' should be given the opportunity to take us back up again. .
What we must do is learn by this mistake. I certainly understand the 'desire' of giving your promotion squad a go with the big boys, but this has back - fired spectacularly, as we are just not good enough. Greavsie has had his hands tied with the 'restrictive' budget. Not his or the club's fault - we can't afford this league and so we won't be in it much longer. You don't shop at Harrods if you're used to Aldi!
My goodness me, Zeb Baker Smi…