Salisbury set for first game under new ownership as National League South season kicks off
The Whites take on Hampton & Richmond in the opening game today
New Salisbury FC owner Ali Alhamad says the Whites are aiming for a mid-table finish in the National League South this season.
The Kuwaiti businessman bought the club over the summer and has improved the budget available to the management team, led by Brian Dutton.
The side narrowly avoided an instant return to the Southern Premier League on the final day of last season, thanks to a 1-1 draw at Welling United.
Today, the Whites begin their second season in the sixth tier away at Hampton & Richmond, with the first match at the Ray Mac against Dagenham & Redbridge next Saturday (16th).
The new owner says he's excited to get the new season underway.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "Brian and Callum have done a wonderful job putting together the team with a budget that has been assigned to them. I'm expecting great things from the team and I'm looking forward to it, as I'm sure all the fans should be.
"It's going to be a very fun journey!"
Mr Alhamad's backing has allowed the side to welcome high level experience like Matty Taylor and Tom Davies to the Ray Mac.
And while the investment might bring pressure to succeed with it, Ali told us the management team have looked for a certain profile of personality when signing players.
"They go for character," he said. "The men that are in our football team, they are not only exceptional footballers, they are exceptional characters and they can handle what is in store for them."
Manager and players raring to go
The new chairman says the players are raring to go, a feeling shared by manager Brian Dutton.
The boss told us, there's a "positive atmosphere" around the club.
"I'm really excited for the season to begin and see what we've got under the bonnet," Brian said. "We've got a brand new brand new budget and a brand new squad.
"So everything's new and with that you get a lot of excitement and a lot of uncertainty, but the overriding feeling is excitement."
The manager agreed that mid-table should be the target: "We want to have a really positive season, so we'll take it game by game and hopefully we can do something special."
He added that the addition of experience will be "worth its weight in gold", saying it won't just be on the pitch that they'll make a difference.
"There's a saying that I like saying, which is if you have good seniors, you'll have good juniors and it's true because they're able to educate the younger players on not only tactical development and where to be, it's also just how you prepare for matches and how you conduct yourself," Brian said.
He insisted that the pressure brought by the extra investment is a positive, saying it's "taking the excuses away".
The boss said he's "happy" with where the group is at, after a "really good" pre-season.
Optimism among the fan base
As always, supporters enter a new season with hopes of a season to remember.
But for Salisbury fans, there's more reason than most to feel optimistic ahead of the new campaign, thanks to the new investment.
Dave Drag, from the Salisbury Facebook Supporters Group, says a mid-table finish is "absolutely realistic".
"I think with the quality of player we've got the extra players we've got in the side in terms of numbers and the increased budget with the new investment I think were we to not finish mid table, I think there may well be a bit of pressure applied on the management team," he said.
The boosted squad numbers is something that needed addressing in the off-season, with members of the management team named on the bench for games last season.
Dave said the signings of Matty Taylor and Tom Davies, who have very recent Football League experience is a massive plus.
"You're not picking up players who have been there and done it 5-6 seven years ago and a sort of reaching sort of dropping back down the leagues. These are players that have played there within the last year or two and the blend of youth and experience looks to be really good."
He told us the fanbase is excited ahead of the new season, with many anticipating three points from today's trip to Hampton & Richmond.
The Facebook group runs a prediction league, which has around 100 predictions made by supporters per match.
Dave said: "I think out of the predictions that have already been made, two have gone for defeats, probably about 10 or 15 have gone for draws and the rest have gone for a Salisbury win.
"So clearly, whether it's early season positivity and everyone feels that, from what they've seen and the excitement that's gone on over the summer, we should be looking for a win."