Glasshoughton Welfare manager Jon Miles expects the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division to be stronger than ever in 2014-15
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New Glasshoughton Welfare manager Jon Miles admits that competing in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division will be harder than ever in 2014-15, but still hopes to improve on last season’s 16th placed finish.
Miles hosted his first pre-season training session at Leeds Road last night and most of the side that finished the season under his caretaker guidance were present.
Glasshoughton are gearing up for a third campaign back in the Premier Division since their return to the top flight in 2012 and Miles is well-aware of the ambitions of a number of clubs and believes it will make it tougher for his club.
“The aim is to be competitive, but I want to do is do better than we have in previous years,” he said.
“So for the last two years we have finished 16th. Without talking about specific clubs, a lot of clubs pay big money and you can’t compete with them.
“But I would like to think we can be competitive. We proved against Taddy in April that we can be competitive and I’d like to think we can finish higher than 16th.
“If you look at the league, it is far stronger than it was last year. There were a couple of sides last year that were the whipping boys and they’re gone.
“Where you looked at a couple of bankers home and away, I don’t think there’ll be any of them this year.
“There’s some money flying about, but I do believe if we can get people focussed and wanting to play, I think we can build on the end of last season.”
Jon Miles oversees Glasshoughton’s first pre-season training session last night
Miles and his assistant Mark Kellett were given the permanent post after speaking of their desire to field Castleford-based players at the interview for the job.
Miles had taken charge of the final 12 games of last season after Rob Hunter’s resignation and the work ethic that he installed into his side also helped win the post.
As the appointment was made at the beginning of June, Miles had to react quickly to ensure he did not miss out on his transfer targets.
Only last season’s vice-captain Liam Tuck is definitely not returning and he is believed to be heading to Wakefield FC.
Miles said: “I was on holiday the next day (after being appointed) and I was ringing round trying to get players in,” he said.
“We were at Center Parcs and the wife was screaming saying ‘what are you doing, we’re supposed to be on holiday’ and I was making phone calls.
“Before we got the job, I had lads ringing me asking me if I was getting the job because if you’re not we’re going to somewhere else.
“We got it in just enough time to ensure we didn’t lose anyone to another club. We have had a fantastic response since we got the job.
“Everyone who played for us at the back end of last season who I contacted – apart from Paul Hagreen who hasn’t made his mind up as he has some travelling issues – have said they’ll come back.”
Midfielder Liam Tuck is not returning to Glasshoughton Welfare
Miles sees Castleford and its surrounding areas as an “untapped market” and expects to see more faces old and new from the local football scene at training as pre-season wears on.
A striker who began his career at Leeds Road and went to score goals at a local Evo Stik Division One North has contacted Miles offering to return.
He might be positive about his team’s chances, but Miles does agree that Glasshoughton have a difficult start even before the fixtures are announced.
Because of cricket at Leeds Road, Welfare will once again have to begin the season travelling and Miles added: “We do need to hit the ground running
“We know straightaway that we are onto a bit of a loss due to the cricket and that like the last two years we are going to have the first seven or eight games all away from home.
“It makes it hard when you’re playing away. It is not like the middle of the season when you’re playing away from home eight times in a row.
“We’re going to do the first eight games Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday travelling. If we don’t hit the ground running, it could be soon become demoralising if we had four or five losses to start with.
“If we then go to Pickering or Brid on a Tuesday on the back of that, it takes some geeing up so that’s why we need to be there or there abouts from day one and I think we will be.”
Glasshoughton have also appointed Rob Rice as their new player-manager of the club’s reserve team.
By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)