While some Town fans may be resigned to the prospect of relegation, Gavin Macpherson has no intention of sending out his troops with that mentality when we face playoff-chasing Hemel Hempstead Town on Easter Monday (k-o 3pm).
Town’s fate effectively relies on other teams slipping up even if we win our last four games, rendering tomorrow a potential last throw of the dice.
Whatever the result, Gavin plans to sit down thereafter with the powers that be to have a chat about the situation going forward. But for the moment he is fully concentrated on trying to beat Hemel and throwing everything into the final group of fixtures.
Town seem likely to still be without Mickey Parcell and another couple of injuries, including possibly Billy Leonard. Both Mickey and Billy limped off at Chelmsford but Paul Appiah will be back in a Town shirt and Bailey Brown, a Good Friday substitute, is fit again.
Gavin admits that conceding decisive late goals, combined with lack of quality at the other end, have been the bane of our season.
“I’ve had teams in the past that have been freescoring but conceded a fair amount of goals. I’ve also had teams that have been mean defensively but not as potent at the other end. This season we haven’t been good enough in either box and that is a recipe for where we are.”
In truth, that is partially down to the difficulty of recruitment at Step 2 where money talks far louder than lower down the pyramid, especially when it comes to proven goalscorers.
Gavin has never been relegated in his managerial career and admits it will be hard to stomach if we return to step 3 after two seasons in National League South.
“It’s something I’ve never experienced before and won’t be a good feeling,” he conceded. “The dugout is a lonely place sometime, especially when you get decisions wrong.”
“We need to try and win all four games and see what happens. If we go down, my first thought will be for the supporters because managers and players come and go but the fans are a constant.
“What I will feel is a huge sense of regret but that’s not where my head is at the moment. My head is trying to play the best we can against Hemel.”
AW