Martin Thacker claims Hall Road Rangers’ young players would have stayed last summer if he had been in charge. Picture: Lee Myers
Martin Thacker claims he would have persuaded Hall Road Rangers’ young fledglings to stay at the club if he had been in charge last summer.
Hall Road lost the likes of Connor Harman, Obeni Rhuanduka and Benn Lewis to Bridlington Town after Andy Foster left his role as boss of Rangers to become Gary Allanson’s assistant at Queensgate.
Corey Mortimer also joined Barton Town Old Boys.
Hall Road have struggled in the Toolstation NCEL Division One this season and Thacker, who replaced Lee Hastings before Christmas, said: “When I was away I saw that everyone was leaving, and I don’t blame them for leaving.
“We were struggling at the time and some big sides like Barton and Brid came in for them.
“But now we have a steady bunch that want to stay, we just need to add a striker who can get them goals and we will look forward to next season.
“If I’d have had the job last summer they’d have stayed but we’ve just focused on making sure the lads we have left are ready.
“We’ve really missed the cutting edge up front this season, so what I really need to do is find striker who will score 20 goals in the Counties, that’s what we’re really missing.”
Hall Road, who host Hallam tomorrow, are into their final two months of their time at Dene Park.
Humber Premier League side Hull United own Dene Park and Rangers are due to move to Haworth Park in the summer.
Thacker believes the move will beneficial for Hall Road.
“Dene Park doesn’t have a Hall Road feel, everything’s black and white, we play in a blue and white kit,” he said.
“It just doesn’t have that feel anymore, even though we are welcome.
“It’s almost like we’re not because it nothing’s blue and white, it just doesn’t belong to us anymore.
“Moving to Haworth allows us two things.
“Firstly it allows us to fund ourselves and the actual stand will be Hall Road colours.
“It will all be sponsored by companies that sponsor Hall Road rather than Dene Park, and the pitch is better so we can get better players.
“The world’s our oyster.
“It will bring everyone together and we can move forward.
“Next season first and foremost we aim for tenth.
“As the top ten pay their players and get in the FA Cup, it’s really difficult to get good players unless you’re in the top-half of the table.
“At Haworth we can start to fund ourselves and attract the best players.”