Forest Green Rovers are able to officially confirm that the club will next season participate in the Blue Square Bet South, David Hockaday’s position as manager has now been finalised with a contract to the end of next season.
Following relegation at the end of the season and taking into account the current financial position, the club has now been able to set a management and playing budget with the knowledge of which league the club will compete in.
Although waiting to make the official announcement, Hockaday has already been busy behind the scenes and will hopefully be able to advise the first new signings for next season alongside backroom staff appointments.
The budget agreed, although greatly reduced from last season, will nevertheless allow the club to be in a position to be able to compete for the signatures of key players and so enable the squad to be competitive.
The budget does allow for the ability to have at least a third of the intended squad in a full-time capacity and other flexibility around other signings.
The manager is keen to be in position when training resumes on 1st July to have the vast majority, if not all of his intended squad in place.
As part of discussions and other areas that needed addressing since the end of the season, we are also able to announce that negotiations are on-going with Hartpury College to retain their excellent facilities and to ensure that we also retain membership of the Football Combination to field a good quality reserve squad.
Part of those talks led by vice-chairman Colin Peake and other club personnel will also relate to integration of the youth set up and more joint use of each other’s excellent on and off field facilities.
The club remains committed to growth through the partnership with the college, aided by our own first class youth development. This is part of the club’s long term vision which the club need to be mindful of.
The club were also very pleased, via its strong links with the Football Conference, to be able to supply the ball boys for the Blue Square Premier Promotion Final last Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
