The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
New caretaker-boss Tom Roberts is looking forward to getting back to the bread and butter of football after a turbulent week at Holbeach United.
Roberts was caught at the centre of a some controversy last week, as former Tigers boss Darren Jarvis – after he was sacked– suggested he had constantly undermined him during his spell in charge.
The former number two, who is now in co-caretaker charge at Carter’s Park with Andrew Tidswell, isn’t interested in getting involved with any mudslinging or speculation about his own future – and wants to draw a line under the issue.
Instead, he’s fully focused on what looks like being a very exciting festive fixture list in charge of the Tigers.
Third-placed Holbeach welcome Northampton Sileby Rangers (20th) to Carter’s Park on Saturday (3pm), before three big Christmas crackers.
A derby at Wisbech Town on Boxing Day (3pm) is followed by home dates with Yaxley (December 28, 3pm) and leaders Leicester Nirvana (January 2, 3pm) – and Roberts reckons it doesn’t get much better than that.
“It’s time for our football to do the talking again,” said the new man in charge. “Andrew and I have these roles for the forseeable future, there’s nothing more to say really.
“It’s a boring old cliché, but we’re just going to take it a game at a time and see what happens.
“It’s an exciting period for the club, I know I’m looking forward to the games.
“Sileby will be tough on Saturday, they are a side that tries to play good football. Then we have three massive games.
“We couldn’t have asked for more than Wisbech, Yaxley and Nirvana over Christmas.
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing.
“Football-wise, we’ve not done a lot wrong this season.”
Roberts and Tidswell have made a couple of tweaks to their backroom staff, with the experienced Matt Warfield taking on more coaching responsibilities as a senior player. Simon Dougill has also joined as a goalkeeping coach and will work closely with Ricky Drury on matchdays.
The Tigers are boosted by the return of key defender Stacy Cartwright, too. He’s back in the squad on Saturday.
Striker Tommy Treacher is also targeting the Yaxley match for his return from a lengthy lay-off.
Meanwhile, striker Gary King has left the club to join higher-graded Lincoln United.
