By Brian Bennett
Ashington FC manager Nick Gray has admitted that after a season he wished to forget, he considered his own future as boss of the Woodhorn Lane based outfit.
The Colliers secured their status in the East Division of the Northern Premier League on their own merit when they won 1-0 at Bradford Park Avenue in the final game of the last campaign.
However, Gray said that in a season which he didn’t enjoy and which was the most challenging in all of his years in management, he contemplated about his next move: “I have always loved football,” he said, “But last year was the hardest and toughest campaign I have experienced and I had to think personally about myself as to where I was mentally. My late father and family have always been my biggest supporters. I’ve never been a quitter, and it was one of those situations whereby I felt I hadn’t done myself or the team justice for the club. The supporters were unbelievable and the people behind the scenes were fantastic even in tough times, but I’ve got to be honest and say that I didn’t enjoy it. You’ve got to enjoy football and last year as a group we didn’t do that – although I learned from it.”
He continued: “This year we’ve got to be on the front foot and look forward to the beginning of the season. I want players who are going to be hungry and who want to be here. Where we are as a club, we’ve always got a lot of competition at this level with teams along the doors and where we are financially as a club, we’re down the pecking order. So players come here and see what the ambition of the club is and how we are going forward. Those are the positives and we’ll be a close tight knit group this term where the standards will be far better.”
He went on: “We certainly do not want to dwell on things from last year – you can’t live in the past, but you can change the future. The biggest challenge to the players is that it we have got to learn (from last year). People who know me know that I give my all and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I still think I’ve got a lot to offer in football, but I’m pleased to get the last six weeks out of the way because the close season is certainly not my favourite time.”
He added: “People have seen a lot of teams declaring signings and friendlies and you’ve just got to trust people – that’s a big thing. My message to supporters is that I’ve always had teams that play attractive football, but we are not going to sign someone for the sake of it – any newcomer has got to improve the squad. They have also got to be the right people – not just ability wise – but have the right attitude.”
He concluded: “In management, I’ve never relegated a team. Even at Seaton Delaval and Whitley Bay as well as in my ten years with Morpeth we improved every season. People can tell if I’ve won or lost a game and that’s what I want to instil into my players – it’s got to hurt them to get beat. I can accept defeat but it’s how you get beat and giving of your all.”