It was a disappointing season for Kendal Town as they were relegated from the NPL West and are preparing for life in the North West Counties League.
Michael O’Neill took over as chairman at a difficult time last season, with Kendal firmly entrenched in the relegation zone and with mounting problems over an ageing ground.
So I met-up with Michael for a chat to find -out just what the club’s prospects are for 2022/23.
Can you just run us through your football background before being appointed Kendal chairman?
I’ve been lucky enough to have several roles in football. From grassroots with 18 years at Myerscough juniors, eight years with Liverpool academy and head of academy recruitment at two EFL clubs. The blend of roles has certainly been an education.
How big a disappointment/disaster was it that Kendal were relegated from NPL West?
It was tough to take. We’re competitive people and being relegated hurt. When we came in we had three points, looking back staying up was an almost impossible task, especially considering the debt. However, we’ve found many positives and believe we can gather some momentum. We may look back again and see it as a blessing.
I believe you found that finances were in a bit of a mess soon after you took over. How are things looking now and what have you done to improve them?
Like most businesses, Kendal Town struggled during the pandemic and had wracked up some serious bills. Our first job was to understand the debt as for the most part, these weren’t reflected on paper. I’m pleased to say that due to the hard work of many we’ve reduced the debt and it’s now very manageable. It still makes life a little tougher but we’ve great people working behind the scenes.
Parkside Road clearly needed freshening up. Have you been able to do any improvements in the last few months?
We have some wonderful volunteers at Kendal Town and they’ve been very generous with their time. The stadium is in far better shape. We recently ran a ground tidy day with a barbecue and we had at one point 30 people working hard. The results we’re quite remarkable. The club is extremely lucky.
What can you tell us about Jimmy Marshall your new manager? He seems to have created a good impression
We have been aware of Jimmy for a while and his brand of football. We were grateful Milnthorpe gave us permission to speak to him and within minutes we knew he was the man for us. He spoke with clarity around ethos and style of football. He was also clear about the players he could attract and our ambitions matched. We want to support Jimmy and help him achieve his goals and ours. We’re extremely hopeful!
A number of experienced former Kendal players have been signed, was that a deliberate ploy after two seasons with inexperienced squads?
Jimmy has signed some very good footballers for this level. I’m pleased to see several players from last season at training as I maintain we had some talent within the squad. Recruitment has also brought in some good young hungry players also. I think we will see the correct blend and potentially something quite special.
The North West Counties Premier Division will have Bury as firm favourites for the title. What are your targets/ambitions for the new season?
Our targets are vast. And they are not just surrounding league placings. Were in a league with some wonderful clubs who have continuity. We are basically from scratch with a new manager and almost a new group. It will take time. Our core aims are surrounding attendances, engagement, increasing our provision for local sport and improving our facilities.
You tried some new initiatives last season to bring in more fans. Have you others in the pipeline?
We will 100 per cent try a few new things this season. We have to think differently if we want to achieve different results. Massive push is to increase the fan base and attract more families to the club. We want Kendal Town to be at the heart of community. A recent grassroots tournament had around 1,000 people in attendance with 48 children’s team playing small sided games on the pitch. We hope to see some of those families again.
Have you budgeted like a lot of clubs for a certain number of fans at each home game, and if so what is that figure?
We have forecast for moderate figures and no cup runs. We want to ensure our playing budget in place for 37 weeks. We want to be in a position where we could possibly increase it. This is will be down to success both on and off the pitch.
What are your long term ambitions for the club and how do you enjoy the role of chairman?
On a personal level I want to see the club survive. It was close to going under in November. If not for the hard work of volunteers I truly believe the club would have died. There is still work to do. We’re working hard.
Bits I enjoy? The challenge. I’m fully aware I’m young for a non league chairman. But I believe with the committee we’ve currently got, the sky is the limit. We all love the club and want to see it succeed.
Selfishly I do enjoy the hospitality when you go away from home. The chilli con carne at Colne FC on New Year’s Day 2022 was a massive highlight.