Swindon Supermarine Chairman, Jez Webb, believes that the club’s relegation at the end of last season has already led to many positives as the club prepares for life in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South.
“The calibre and number of applications we received for the vacant manager’s job was head-spinning,” he admitted to us. “The quality of the candidates who wanted to come here really uplifted us and reiterated exactly what a strong reputation this club has within the non-League game.
“In the end we went for Bobby Wilkinson, who brings a successful and experienced team with him and we are all very excited to see what the campaign ahead holds in store for us.
“The playing squad has been totally rebuilt with over half of them having played at higher levels. Again, the credentials of those who have arrived reflect very positively on the management team we now have in place and the facilities that we are able to offer here.
“It’s been a positive summer so far with plenty of progress made. Not only are we building a strong playing squad, but for the tenth consecutive season we have been able to invest heavily in the playing surface.
“The fruits of this can clearly be seen as it currently looks like a bowling green. Three years ago we invested in a watering machine and it has certainly proved its worth this year in what has been a particularly dry close season.
“We’ve also replaced the 3G playing surface in our indoor facility, which is known as The Swindome. There’s a strong order book here and the revenue from this helps with the maintenance of the whole site.
“This is also a key factor in attracting players who know that they will have a top-class surface on which to perform as well as excellent training facilities.
“We’re proud of our facilities and we’re also proud of the many volunteers who help keep the club ticking over. It’s because of their hard work and dedication why people want to have a piece of the Supermarine cake and see us a good place to be.”
The club don’t intend to stand still during the season ahead and are eager to bounce back straight away.
“We have a healthy budget, certainly a top six budget,” added Webb, who has been Chairman of the club for just over a decade. “There are always teams who surprise every season, but I am determined that we will be right up there challenging for a prompt return to Step 3.
“There is a fantastic feel-good factor around the club right now, which is in stark contrast to what it was immediately after relegation was confirmed. We’ve turned things around in a short space of time and now we want to take this into the new season.
“We want to make 2025/26 a season to remember for all of the right reasons; a first-class experience for the supporters and a team on the pitch that plays the game the right way and with the right attitude.
“As a club we will continue to do things the right way; I have made it known that this will be my final season as Chairman and the task of finding the right person/people to take over the reins is underway.
“Whether that is as investors or an outright purchase remains to be seen, but until then I will give it my full attention and make sure that the club is fully secure for the long-term.
“We own the ten acres our operations work out of; it’s an amazing position just two miles from Swindon centre and with the recent reset on the playing side of things, we are excited by the road that this club is now on and the direction in which it is heading.”
IMAGE: Swindon Supermarine FC
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