The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Manager Chris Rawlinson has committed his future to Spalding United in the wake of the club cutting their weekly budget.
The Tulips, who were spending big and pushing for promotion from Evo-Stik NPL Division One South last season, have opted for a “change in direction” off the pitch as they bid to safeguard their future.
Although there is “no appetite” within the club to drop back down to the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division (step five), Rawlinson admits that the days of the club paying to attract top talent are now over.
The Spalding supremo, who does admit that telling the players about the cut was “frustrating”, accepts that he now has to wait and see if any of the current squad decide to move on following wage cuts.
“It’s obviously important that the club lives within its means,” said Rawlinson. “We can’t go on like we have been.
“Last season we made a flying start and saw it through with big investment, reaching the play-off final.
“That’s over now. The budget has been reduced and the club is going through a change in direction. Perhaps we’ll no longer be able to afford that bit of sparkle we’ve had in recent years.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, though. You can compare it to the time when Marcus Ebdon and Danny Hussey were in charge of the football club.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to fear. Of course, any number of players may now opt to leave – that’s their prerogative.
“They may be picked off by higher-graded clubs or move on for more money, but that’s football.
“I can’t honestly tell you that seven or eight players won’t walk out by the weekend. But it’s also not out of the question that they will all get together and decide to stay together for less money.
“This is a transitional period and I’m aware that the players who have to travel a long way to play for us probably won’t see it as worth their while financially to carry on coming over. It’s a case of wait and see what happens.
“But we’re certainly not going to be using all under-21 or Reserve team players.
“We’ll still look to bring players in that we feel can do a job – nothing massive has changed really.
“Of course, I do feel frustrated that I’ve had to tell players that they can’t have the terms I originally offered to them and it doesn’t sit well with me.
“But I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity Spalding gave me to manage here and I’ll just get on with what is a different challenge.
“People may think that means going back to step five football, but there is no appetite from anybody within the club to re-enter the UCL.
“There are some great local UCL sides, but our league is a massive step up. That’s the level we all want to be at and we’ll do all we can to stay here.
“You never know, the club may have a new financial backer in the next few months? That’d be nice.”
Spalding, who are just outside of the play-off places in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South, visit unbeaten league leaders Basford United this Saturday (3pm).
Rawlinson admits that it’s “Impossible” to provide any team news due to the uncertainty over players.
And he’s adamant that he’ll be gunning for a victory whatever his squad looks like.
“It’s a tough one,” added the Tulips chief. “But we’ll go there with the intention of winning the game.
“We have to go there at some point, so why not now?
“It’s a tough one to prepare for as I don’t really know who I’ll have available, but we’ll give it a good go.”
Spalding captain Adam Jackson featured on loan for South Holland rivals Holbeach United in Wednesday night’s game with Eynesbury Rovers, but it is expected that he’ll be with the Tulips on Saturday.
