NPL Division One East
Brett Agnew is aiming for Bridlington Town to silence the critics and reach the safety mark in the coming weeks…when they eventually return to action.
Bridlington are the middle of a three-week break due to gaps in their fixture list so their next competitive fixture is the home clash with Stocksbridge Park Steels on March 12th.
Brid are currently two places above the relegation areas and Agnew has a points target in mind.
“It is really close (near the bottom),” Agnew told Non League Yorkshire.
“Pickering are a bit adrift but they have games-in-hand over us and as do Sheffield.
“We’ll be hoping when the games are played (when we’re not playing) teams around us don’t pick up points.
“When we start playing again on the 12th March we’ll have a good balance as to where we are at and where we can be.
“We identified about three games that maybe between 32 and 35 points will be a good safety marker.
“We’re on 23 so we need a three more wins and maybe a draw then we should be safe.
“The last two weeks of the season is an important part for us as we play Sheffield FC, Pickering and then Dunston.
“Sheffield and Pickering are the games which are going to be really important but we have a few games before then.
“I hope we get to the safety line before then.
“In the last three games we have been outstanding and been hard done by by a couple of bad refereeing decisions.
“I don’t fear anyone in the league and I feel we have enough belief in the ranks that we should be able to stay up.
“A lot of people thought we were relegation fodder and the overall favourites to go down by a lot of teams.
“Some teams didn’t think we’d get a point.
“It is great to stick two fingers up to people who don’t think you’ll do well but I’ve always had confidence in my own ability as a manager, coach and player.”
Whilst no fixtures have taken place recently, there has been controversy as Brid were booted out of the East Riding Senior Cup after playing ineligible Matty Plummer in their quarter-final tie.
Agnew isn’t impressed with the East Riding FA over the matter.
“I think there was a lot of support for Pete Smurthwaite’s views on the rules,” he said.
“I think the rules are living in the past.
“I’m bitterly disappointed that we have been thrown out because it is silverware we could have won.
“I’ve never known a competition which changes the rules for every round.
“The rules need to be simplified and up-to-date with all the FA competitions.”
Agnew, whose side face Cleethorpes Town in a friendly tomorrow, is relaxed about their lack of competitive fixtures.
“It is what it is and is one of those things,” he said.
“It is not ideal and not what we wanted.
“We had a few injuries and people carrying knocks so maybe a week off may have been good but not three.
“I’ve had a lot of things thrown at me this season so I’ve put it down to another one of those obstacles I need to overcome.”