Christian Fox hopes Selby Town have put their rocky form from late last year behind them and are on the road to a fruitful season.
The aborted 2020/21 Toolstation NCEL Division One campaign was Fox’s annus horribilis during an otherwise magnificent four-year reign which has seen him totally transform the fortunes of the club.
Fox has brought back star striker Liam Flanagan and recruited ex-Penistone Church forward Nathan Keightley and Tadcaster Albion midfielder Kain Rogerson – one of several brand new signings.
Stalwarts such as Danny Snaith, Charlie Clamp and captain Ryan Gothard are among those staying around.
Supporters could see them in action again when Selby host tenants FC Humber United on Saturday afternoon in their first pre-season friendly and Fox says they should expect to see the entertaining brand of football which is associated with his reign at Selby.
“We knew we had a nucleus of a good team (from last season so we didn’t think we would have to rebuild),” Fox told Non League Yorkshire.
“We knew what we needed and we’ve brought them in.
“We needed three or four players to add to the seven or eight we class as starters and first team regulars.
“There may still be a new face or two in the next few weeks, but that’s the nature of Non League Football at this time of the year. It is the same for all clubs.
“We’re not going to change much (to how we play), we’re going to play in the same way we always have.
“We want to play exciting and attacking football and we want players to work hard and play for the shirt.
“I’m confident with the players we have got that we’ll have a good season.”
Selby were on the crest of a wave prior to the pandemic as they were almost certainties for promotion back to the Premier Division after a seven-year exile.
But the FA expunging the 2019/20 put pay to that and Selby simply didn’t get going when the following season began in September.
The Robins won their opening game in the FA Vase, but lost their first five league matches.
Players heavily affected Selby, like most teams, and Fox believes his side were finding their feet just as the second lockdown was announced as they had won at Glasshoughton Welfare to record their first league win.
“I can’t put my finger on it (on what went wrong),” he said.
“All we have to do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“I think the recruitment was ok and if you look at the pre-season results we were doing quite well and getting good results against higher level teams.
“Then when the season came I don’t think we put the same team out for two games in a row.
“I’m not making excuses because it was nowhere near good enough.
“It was a strange time mentally for people as well.
“We had a shocking start, but we were looking to kick on after the win at Glasshoughton and we were getting players back from injury when the second lockdown came.
“Then we were playing on Boxing Day against Harrogate Railway and with our luck at the time the floodlights went out at half-time which scuppered that game.
“We were on top in that game and looking like we’d get three points.
“I think if we’d played a few more games we’d have been a few places further up the table.”