On Thursday August 7th Alan Julian sat down with Seb White and discussed some key points for the season including the changes the club and squad has gone through over the summer, the preseason, and the competitive nature of the National League South for the upcoming campaign.
Lastly, he leaves the fans with an important message.
1: There has been a lot of change at the club over the offseason both on and off the pitch.
AJ: Some is by choice, and some is forced upon you. There are new floodlights, there’s a new scoreboard, the stadium’s brand new, we have a new training ground this season, we have a new squad this season…It’s getting to work with what we’ve got and working really hard on the training pitch with a new group…The boys have been great. These things take time, with a brand-new squad things take time.
2: Julian and his coaching staff were focused on avoiding injuries, letting the players gel and progress in both fitness and tactical comfort in their new system over the summer.
AJ: I won’t sit here and say it’s been an amazing preseason but there have been signs that we’re getting to where we need to get to. We will need some time for the new group to click but we’ll get there no doubt about it. It’s three points at stake on Saturday and the mindset becomes slightly different. When I was a player, I struggled to get myself up for preseason but when it was time for the league it was go time and I’m fairly confident a few of our players are the same.
3: This season is figured to be the most competitive the National League South has been in some time. Julian stresses how hard the players are going to work for the side as well as the fact they will need support from everyone involved at the club to build on last season.
AJ: I want to build on last season’s success. When I say success, we defied the odds by staying in the division last season. That’s a fact. Two very strong big clubs have gone up, but three have replaced them so there’s an extra one there. You’ve got ten full-time sides now. Honestly, to finish above one of the ten full-time sides this year is going to be very difficult. We will of course try. We will and give our absolute all. We will need all the support from everyone involved to do that. We will come up with the plans and the hard work to try and get them results. We’re up against it but we were up against last year. That is no excuse. We’ve got to fight with everything we’ve got and leave no stone unturned. You know me, I want to win the league, but we have to be realistic.
4: The impact fans have at any ground is a big one, but in non-league it may be the setting in which their support is felt the most. Julian implores the fans to get behind his team, not just on Saturday, but for the whole campaign.
AJ: My message to the fans is very similar to the one I said to the players: Don’t get too frustrated with yourself and each other. Enjoy the ride.
We’re up against it. We’ll make no secret about that. So, support us, get behind us, encourage [us], be positive and together we will come through this in a positive way. Everyone’s got their own opinion of success, but if we all stick together, we’ll get there.
Get behind us as you always have. It is a great club to be at, to have played for and to now manage. I am thankful for every single bit of support you have given us, but we’re gonna need you now more than ever moving forwards and I hope you can be as generous as you have always been.
To watch the full interview on YouTube click here