Time for fresh blood? Stamford AFC players and staff give reaction after cruel end to season
Manager Graham Drury suggested it could be time for him and the club to move on
Last updated 27th Apr 2022
What started off as a night filled with promotion hopes ended in a dramatic and cruel end to the season for Stamford AFC.
Despite completing a league double over Belper Town already this season, the away side's tactics proved superior as the Daniels struggled to break down their defence at times and failed to take their chances when they came.
A change in management?
After a few recent seasons where the Reds fell short of promotion, everyone involved with the club were optimistic that this one would be different.
Remaining in the Northern Premier League Division One for another year, manager Graham Drury thinks it might be time for a change:
'This needs to settle down for the club but I said I'd retire at 50, I'm 51 now, and that's a big loss. Two play-offs, (I've) not took the club up, it might be time for fresh blood.'
Can they go again next year?
Stamford's biggest challenge now is keeping hold of the squad - if they do, they'll be real frontrunners again to battle for automatic promotion.
However, with rumours circulating over a number of players leaving, the club could turn to new signings in the summer.
Assistant manager Luke Hipwell said: 'They're a great group, and it would be brilliant to keep as many together as possible, we know realistically that some are going to move on because it's just natural, either a lack of game time or, for quite a lot of them, that they've actually got the ability to play higher',
'Me and Graham have always said that we're never going to stand in anyone's way and there's quite a lot of players who can do that but hopefully, as many stay as possible, and we can continue to build momentum into next season.'
Marshall Willock received the red card in the first half, he said they'll pick themselves up and dust themselves off before going again next year:
'The changing room wasn't a nice place to be after, everyone was devastated. It's a special group of players we've got in there and it hasn't happened this year but next year we'll have all guns firing and we'll try and get to where we should be. It just wasn't our night.'