2016-17 National League South

[Aberstone]

It's that time of the year. The playoffs are complete, signings are being made, clubs are financially ruined and it's all doom and gloom at Wealdstone. Welcome to the close season.

Teams:
Bath City
Bishop's Stortford
Chelmsford City
Concord Rangers
Dartford
Eastbourne Borough
East Thurrock United
Ebbsfleet United
Gosport Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough
Hemel Hempstead Town
Hungerford Town
Maidenhead United
Margate
Oxford City
Poole Town
St. Albans City
Truro City
Wealdstone
Welling United
Weston-Super-Mare
Whitehawk

News:

Early days, but teams have announced their retained lists and those who are free to find new clubs (Ebbsfleet excepted). Gosport Borough have already announced the signings of striker Chris Flood from Basingstoke Town and goalkeeper Martin Rice who arrives from Truro City. Alex Pike has gone on record in the past few days stating that their cash flow problems are over, new sponsors will give them cash in the bank and a £250,000 budget to work with (nice for some). Perhaps due to problems at Privett Park last season, the majority of the squad has been gutted.

Margate have released 8 players and announced the signing of 22 year old striker Mike Fondop-Talum from Billericay Town. Nicki Bull already going to work on the significantly reduced budget, that camaraderie and the underdog mentality may well work for them next season.

Chelmsford City's search for a new manager continues - caretaker boss from the end of last season Kevin Maher is being touted as are Bishop Stortford's manager Rod Stringer, Hemel's manager Dean Brennan and Garry Hill of the Woking ilk. They have new external investment from the Jade Group so expect the Clarets to be challenging next season.

Welling's relegation has led to them releasing all but 2 members of their squad, Mark Goldberg (formerly of Bromley and Palace fame) is the new manager there and has plans to re-develop Park View Road.

Truro City owner Peter Masters has called for external investment to the sum of £500,000 so the club can achieve its aims of National League football. Currently he is funding the club to the sum of £25,000 per month and there have been doubts cast as to whether he'll continue this funding if no suitable investors are found.

Centre back giant Moussa Diarra has left Hampton and Richmond Borough to sign for Barrow, manager Alan Dowson will have a task on his hands trying to find a centre half who is so lethal in the opposition box.

Oxford City have signed midfielder Scott Davies from Wealdstone, I'll give my feelings on this transfer in a subsequent post. The club announced that the bulk of their Spanish imports have left the club and are free to look elsewhere.

Whitehawk have the most peaceful fans in the league.

Any more news/outgoings that take place, I'll update in further posts.

Edit: I forgot that Eastbourne Borough are going 3/4G next season.

 

[Joe.]

Oh christ.

 

[Aberstone]

Right, as for Scott Davies going to Oxford City. Good luck to him, just hope he tanks it in both games against us. I don't think our supporters quite appreciate his workrate, he goes under the radar in that regard. The most talented player we had at the football club but very inconsistent. He'd be back in the Football League if he could put in some of the performances he does on a more regular basis. Oh well, our loss, their gain.

Losing Bradley Hudson-Odoi (who swept our end of season awards) to Sutton is also a right bugger. Tricky winger and a nice bloke to boot. Hope he does well and makes the step up. He deserves it.

Our transfer business I'll update accordingly.

In:
Elliot Benyon (Hayes & Yeading United)
Danny Green (Margate)
David Hunt (Margate)
Ricky Wellard (Hemel Hempstead Town)
Eddie Oshodi (St Albans City)
Sahr Kabba (Welling United)

Out:
Bradley Hudson-Odoi (Sutton United)
Jefferson Louis (Staines Town)
Matt Ball (St. Albans City)
Scott Davies (Oxford City)
Shaun Lucien (St. Albans City)
Dale Binns (Hendon)

 

[Joe.]

Work will begin on our new main stand tomorrow I believe. Be a shame to see that terrace go.

With regards to ins and outs, I've no idea. I hope we keep Howe, Bonner, Lewis, Parkes, Kissock, Kedwell, Godden and Shields though. Not mentioned Ashmore as I believe he's on contract until end of next season.

 

[Sparrow]

Comparing Conference South 2016/17 to Conference North 2016/17, it looks considerably weaker. Would expect Margate to improve on their dire finish, Chelmsford to be 'up there' because of maney, Dartford, Welling, Oxford City, Gosport, Truro and Maidenhead too. Ebbsfleet to win it.

 

[AmbiguousBon]

Truro City owner Peter Masters has called for external investment to the sum of £500,000 so the club can achieve its aims of National League football. Currently he is funding the club to the sum of £25,000 per month and there have been doubts cast as to whether he'll continue this funding if no suitable investors are found.

http://www.trurocityfc.net/news/investment-update-1615472.html

Looks like Truro are being bankrolled again next season

 

[Raymondo316]

Oxford City are also going 3G...

 

[chipmunx]

Oh FFS - more plastic pitches......

Centre back giant Moussa Diarra has left Hampton and Richmond Borough to sign for Barrow, manager Alan Dowson will have a task on his hands trying to find a centre half who is so lethal in the opposition box.

Welcome Moussa

Oxford City have signed midfielder Scott Davies from Wealdstone, I'll give my feelings on this transfer in a subsequent post. The club announced that the bulk of their Spanish imports have left the club and are free to look elsewhere.

Expect Oxford also to re-sign Mo Fofana who we got from them last summer, but have now released....

 

[Kim Mitten]

Chelmsford City's search for a new manager continues - caretaker boss from the end of last season Kevin Maher is being touted as are Bishop Stortford's manager Rod Stringer, Hemel's manager Dean Brennan and Garry Hill of the Woking ilk. They have new external investment from the Jade Group so expect the Clarets to be challenging next season.

Maher has ruled himself out of being Chelmsford manager. He's also Southend U21 manager which he'll continue next season, but this is what he told the local rag:
“But I’m disappointed with how it’s all come to an end if I’m honest.
“The job was offered to someone else while the chairman was claiming that I was top of the list and I just don’t think it’s been handled in the right way"
Look forward to the possibility of seeing them actually compete at the top next season, massive potential at Chelmsford I think they might be tempted to fold if East Thurrock were to come past them as Braintree and Concord have!

 

[JoshBCFC]

Our new badge.

 

[bristolbull]

not a bad looking badge that,seems the club are at last making the move into the 21st century with regards to marketing and social media,which is being rewarded by increased gates,will have to make a effort to get to a few more games next season when hereford games dont clash,only made the bath away game this year.

 

[Aberstone]

I'm not a fan of the new badge tbh.

Liam Enver-Marum has left Basingstoke Town to sign for Oxford City whilst Scott Donnelly has swapped the Hawks for the Gate. Ian Rees has signed for St. Albans, joining from Southern Prem side Biggleswade Town.

 

[Silver Stone]

Yeah me either, that shitty Arsenal rebrand that clubs seem to love ripping off.

 

[Joe.]

Daryl McMahon is supposedly going to be starting contract negotiations this week.

I'd imagine all but Nathan Ashmore, Sam Deering and Aaron McLean are out of contract.

 

[publeaguelegend]

Jesus wept, that's a shite effort. I'd hate to see the rejected designs.

 

[Joe.]

We've finally purchased the ground from the council and work will soon properly begin on the new £5million main stand.

 

[Silver Stone]

Mixed feelings. Stonebridge Road is a terrific ground but I know Fleet can't go where they want to be without rebuilding.

 

[Joe.]

Mixed feelings. Stonebridge Road is a terrific ground but I know Fleet can't go where they want to be without rebuilding.

Will be such a shame to see it go in it's current life but if we match the ambitions of our owner then it has to be done unfortunately.

 

[Raymondo316]

Any plans to remove the seats out the Plough end?? I remember going to Stonebridge Road as a child and thought the atmosphere on that terrace was amazing!!

Then they decided to wreck it by putting seats in.

 

[Joe.]

Any plans to remove the seats out the Plough end?? I remember going to Stonebridge Road as a child and thought the atmosphere on that terrace was amazing!!

Then they decided to wreck it by putting seats in.

I believe, don't quote me on this though, the plan is to have terrace and seating at the ploughend, similar to Southend (?).

All four stands will be redeveloped eventually and all four will have roofs!

As you say, the seats killed the Ploughend atmosphere. Weren't too bad on Saturday mind.

 

[Kim Mitten]

There is no terracing at Southend. The North Bank just has seats bolted to the original terrace, the prolonged stay in the 2nd tier in the 90s put pay to standing at Roots Hall.

 

[Joe.]

There is no terracing at Southend. The North Bank just has seats bolted to the original terrace, the prolonged stay in the 2nd tier in the 90s put pay to standing at Roots Hall.

That's why I put the (?). I wasn't sure. Somebody has terrace and seating in one stand in the league don't they? Or did?

 

[Silver Stone]

Brentford used to.

 

[Raymondo316]

Accrington & Macclesfield both have stands like that..

 

[Aberstone]

Rod Stringer officially confirmed as the new Chelmsford boss then, excellent appointment it has to be said. Been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

Shaun Lucien is the latest player to leave the club, the writing was on the walls really as he hardly featured this past season. On his day, he's a fantastic player to have in your side and I wish him well wherever he ends up (with the exception of a return to the Scummers).

 

[Kim Mitten]

That's why I put the (?). I wasn't sure. Somebody has terrace and seating in one stand in the league don't they? Or did?

Fair enough. Brentford have that two tiered stand with seating up top and standing below at Griffin Park, although they are moving to a new stadium as well aren't they? Another team to spend too long in the 2nd tier and have to give up standing.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Looks like Margate are chucking money at it again. They have signed last years top scorer Elliot Buchanan from Bishops Strortford
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Marg...South-scorer/story-29288803-detail/story.html

 

[Raymondo316]

Looks like Margate are chucking money at it again. They have signed last years top scorer Elliot Buchanan from Bishops Strortford
http://www.thanetgazette.co.uk/Marg...South-scorer/story-29288803-detail/story.html

I was hoping we would go in for him

Seems Margate ain't as skint as they been claiming to be. He sure as hell wont of come cheap...

 

[MargateFC]

Comparing Conference South 2016/17 to Conference North 2016/17, it looks considerably weaker. Would expect Margate to improve on their dire finish, Chelmsford to be 'up there' because of maney, Dartford, Welling, Oxford City, Gosport, Truro and Maidenhead too. Ebbsfleet to win it.

Hopefully we can do better, released most of squad and signed Donnelly from Havant and Buchanen from Bishops.

New to forum so hello to all

 

[MargateFC]

I was hoping we would go in for him

Seems Margate ain't as skint as they been claiming to be. He sure as hell wont of come cheap...

God knows where the money is coming from as slashed wage bill by 65% but a exciting signing