Many thanks to Alex, who has answered this weeks questions ahead of our game against, who seem to be our bogey side, Woking!
Many thanks to Alex, who has answered this weeks questions ahead of our game against, who seem to be our bogey side, Woking!
Not going to the game tomorrow? Join us on Vital Lincoln City for Team News, Match Updates & LIVE Vanarama National League Scores RIGHT HERE.
How Long Have You Supported Woking?
Seven season’s now – so a relegation and a promotion already!
Last Season’s League Finish?
7th. It was a brilliant season for us. Finished as the highest part-time team and almost still had a chance of making the play-offs until the final day.
What Do You Think Of Your Manager?
Garry Hill is very experienced at this level and understands he is working at Woking with limited resources, which he manages to make the very most out of. He’s been here for almost five years now and in that time he’s taken us from a mid-table Conference South side to a top seven Conference Premier side. He certainly, in my opinion, has to be in the top three managers in this division.
Hopes/Expectations This Season?
Hill said before the season that this one would be a ‘transitional season’ as we had lost many key players in the summer: Winger Kevin Betsy, who made the Conference Team of the Season, Adam Newton and John Nutter all retired, defenders James Clarke (Bristol Rovers) and Joe McNerney moved into the Football League and midfielder Josh Payne signed for Eastleigh. Also, in the previous three seasons back in the Conference we had progressed in each one – 12th, 9th and 7th – so it was to be expected that it would be very difficult to improve once more.
That said, we managed to keep hold of Scott Rendell, who scored 25 league goals last season, and signed centre-back Ismail Yakubu, a player that has twice won promotion into the Football League so there was still hope of a decent finish. However, both of them picked up ACL injuries within the first seven games of the season so that’s been a massive blow. Furthermore, captain Mark Ricketts has had a spell on the sidelines and Kieran Murtagh is soon set to have a minor surgery on his groin injury. So now the priority is to stay in the division, which I’m sure we’ll do. A top-half finish would be excellent, given all of the above, coupled with a run in the Trophy.
One(s) To Watch?
John Goddard has scored 11 goals from midfield so he’s definitely a dangerman. Dan Holman is also a very hard working striker up front so he’ll need to be looked out for too.
A bit of a quiet summer for you guys in terms of transfers. Amongst those signings was Jake Caprice who was released by ourselves. How has he done for you?
Jake has done well this season. He’s quick and delivers a wicked cross. Defensively, at times, he may not be the best but he’s certainly a threat going forward. In recent weeks he’s only made appearances off the bench after, seemingly, a fall out with Garry Hill. He’ll probably only come off the bench on Saturday.
There’s been news of a potential takeover, having recently reported losses of circa £430k. How does a Club of Woking’s size lose that much money in one year? It seems your better seasons have been on the back of a vastly increased budget?
The club haven’t revealed the complete ins and outs of the finances, so quite how we’ve managed to lose £430k, I’m not sure. I’m not convinced that the loss has been because of a ‘vastly increased budget’, it has been well documented that our budget has been £300k since we’ve been back in the division. I would imagine that it’s probably somewhere in the region of £350k come the end of the season. Regarding the takeover, it’s going to be a highly interesting few weeks at the club. Even more so that if it doesn’t happen, Mike Smith, our chairman, has announced that they’re planning a ‘relegation budget’ for next season. From a side over-achieving and almost reaching the play-offs to relegation. Not the most encouraging news to put it lightly. Even more so after the entry price was risen from £15 to £18 this season. Watching relegation football for £18 won’t draw in the crowds. Still, we’ll have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks.
Is it fair to say that injures to key players made your season a difficult one before it even got started?
Yes, certainly. Scott Rendell and Ismail Yakubu picking up ACL injuries within the first seven games was really cruel, both for the players, of course, and Garry Hill who had managed to bring them to the club. I imagine they would be our two highest earners so that was a fair amount of the budget gone, not to say that it was their fault, obviously! Since Boreham Wood away, where Yakubu and captain Mark Ricketts got injured, our form has been indifferent. It’s been such a shame, as the early signs, even without Rendell, were that we looked a very good side. Garry Hill must have walked under many ladders in pre-season!
Top Five Predictions?
I think the current top five will be how it finishes, but in the order of:
1. Cheltenham
2. Grimsby
3. Eastleigh
4. FGR
5. Lincoln
Bottom Four Predictions?
21. Welling
22. Torquay
23. Halifax
24. Kidderminster
Thoughts on Lincoln City?
They seem to have, finally, got their act together this season. I’m looking forward to seeing what Rhead is like given the impressive goal tally he’s already notched up. It will be interesting to see how Lincoln cope without Hearn following his move to Barrow. At the moment, it seems to be shaping up to be a captivating season for the Imps.
Score Prediction?
Head says: Woking 1 Lincoln 2 – as I think we could struggle to contain Lincoln’s attack.
Heart says: Woking 2 Lincoln 1 – based on our decent record against Lincoln!
Random Fact About Your Club?
We’ve won at Wembley four times! And never lost there. Pretty impressive, eh!
