Promotion is the goal for Whaley as Spalding United prepare to start league campaign

Ambitious boss Brett Whaley insists that Spalding United must be challenging for promotion this season.

The Tulips get their Pitching In NPL Midlands Division campaign under way with a home clash against Daventry Town on Saturday (3pm), before making the trip to Cambridge City next Wednesday night (7.45pm).

Having made a string of eye-catching signings over the summer, Whaley is pulling no punches when it comes to discussing the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field-based club’s aims for the forthcoming campaign.

“Everybody we have signed over the summer was brought to the club with challenging for promotion in mind,” said the former Wisbech Town supremo. “Everybody knows how ambitious this club is.

“As far as I’m concerned, the minimum aim for the season is to reach the play-offs.

“When I look at the squad, I see a group of very talented individuals. So it’s my job to help them gel together into a team capable of achieving our aims.

“It’s a different challenge to me at this level, but one I’m really looking forward to.

“I know what it’s like to be at the other end of the table and getting stuck in a losing habit, not knowing where your next point is coming from.

“What I want to see from the team this year is to develop a winning habit. We had great wins last season, but were nowhere near consistent enough and lost games we should have been winning.”

The Daventry game on Saturday is a good test for new-look Spalding, who laboured to a 2-1 victory over lower-graded Deeping Rangers in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend (see page 37).

New signings James Clifton, Archie Jones, Toby Hilliard and Jordan O’Brien were all handed starts in that game, while fellow fresh faces Danny Draper, Bradley Rolt, Matt Sparrow and Elliot Sandy were all included on the bench.

Whaley will be hoping that his recruits will help them scratch an itch from last season, when Spalding found mid-table opposition such as Daventry tougher nuts to crack than the so-called better teams at the top.

“It’s true, we found the likes of Daventry very tough opposition last season,” added Whaley. “They are a physical side and will put us under a lot of pressure.

“We need to be better against the teams not necessarily aiming for the top six. But going for promotion offers us a different kind of pressure.

“I feel we’ll be better prepared for Saturday after being a bit out of sorts against Deeping.

“On Saturday I looked at my bench and saw a lot of players who could come on and change the game. As a manager, that is great for me.”

Spalding expect to name the same squad that defeated Deeping against Daventry, but Whaley could make changes to the starting 11.

Daventry finished last season in 16th place, but took four points off the Tulips – who ended up in tenth spot.