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Selby Town manager Christian Fox has performed miracles this season, but guiding his team through the upcoming fixture chaos is his biggest challenge yet
Selby Town manager Christian Fox has performed miracles this season, but guiding his team through the upcoming fixture chaos is his biggest challenge yet
That said, the Selby boss believes the fixture chaos that his squash-bucklers face could work to their advantage.
The play-offs chasers have ten games to fit in during the next four weeks and Fox’s side will have to play Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday for the rest of the season because of the recent horrendous weather.
Since this interview was conducted with Fox, the West Riding FA have also placed the County Cup in mid-April, adding more fixture problems for Selby.
Fox told Non League Yorkshire: “Because of the weather, it has been a frustrating period.
“We have managed to keep the boys training, that’s one positive.
“Even during my time as a pro at York City, I have never witnessed anything like this. The weather is in the lap of the gods and it is unfortunate that we have had so much rain.
“That’s the way it is and it is going to test everyone. Sometimes it can go in your favour because if you have games back-to-back it can help build momentum.
“You do need a decent and big squad to cope and to be able to rotate. I think it could work in our favour.
“We are just concentrating on ourselves. We have games-in-hand on the teams around us so we’ll look to do what we need to do and see where we are at the end of the season.”
Fox, a contender for the manager of the year award, has turned Selby from mid-table wanderers to league heavyweights. He has also guided them to their first County Cup final since 1993.
The last few weeks have been probably the toughest since his appointment last year. After two disappointing displays against Retford United and Shirebrook Town, Selby were unlucky not to win at Worsbrough Bridge on Saturday.
Fox said: “I’ve mixed feelings because in recent weeks we have been off it so performance-wise, even we have come away with a point, it was quite pleasing.
“I was happy with the performance the boys put in, but when you come away from home having hit the crossbar three times you expect to win the game.
“Worsbrough worked hard, you have to give them credit. They played to their strengths, got a goal and that gave them a bit of confidence.
“The message at half-time was just keep going. We did open them up a few times in the first half out-wide and in the central areas.
“That was from playing football on a heavy pitch. People always tell me you can’t play football at this time of year on heavy pitches, but we have proven that you can.
“We just couldn’t break them down in the second half and it disappointing we didn’t go on and won it, but there’s plenty of games to come.”
Fox has also confirmed that he intends on adding to his squad to add depth for the busy month ahead.