Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
New joint manager Matthew Cavanagh says Silsden will be aiming to break into the top half next season.
Cavanagh and Luke Lavery have stepped into Danny Forrest’s shoes and are leading the new era at the West Yorkshire-based club.
The pair were in charge of Silsden’s West Yorkshire League Division One championship-winning Reserves and Cavanagh is hopeful the first team will have a positive season.
“It is a challenge, but I’ve always been at a semi-professional level,” Cavanagh told Non League Yorkshire.
“Most of the management team have as well.
“It is a big jump (from West Yorkshire League), but when Danny was in charge we worked closely with him.
“We watched a lot of the midweek games and if we didn’t have a Saturday fixture we’d be part of it.
“It is something we are excited to be part of and we don’t just to be there, we want to do well and compete to be in the top half of the table and kick on.
“We finished 13th so naturally we want to progress.
“I believe if we can finish in the top half of the table we’ll have had a good season.
“It is very busy at the minute and we’re trying to retain the current players.
“We have only just been announced as joint managers and everyone is obviously after everybody.
“We’re looking to look after our own and once we have things confirmed, we can look at the areas we can improve on and hopefully attract those players to come to a great facility at Silsden.”
Only Harry Parsons is confirmed to be staying with Silsden so far.
The defender did a u-turn on his move to Campion.
Cavanagh says there will be departures, but he hopes there will be continuity.
“I think there will be a little bit of a transition with a few different players coming in,” he said.
“The aim is to keep the current cohort.
“We do believe there is a lot of ability in the first team squad and I do believe most of them will be around next season.
“We have had some positive chats with nearly every single one of those lads.
“A few of them are kicking on and going to higher leagues, but 75% of the squad are looking like they are interested in staying on.
“That would be great.”
Former Garforth Town defender Luke McCrum was one of Silsden’s title-winning reserves and Cavanagh sees promoting players from the second sting as part of his and Lavery’s vision for the club.
“There will be a pathway for the West Yorkshire League team to be promoted into the first eleven if they are playing well,” he said.
“We do want to create a good youthful side and there is some terrific players who were playing in the West Yorkshire League and to be honest shouldn’t have been playing there last season because of their ability.
“I think four or five will be given the opportunity in pre-season to stake a claim for a shirt.
“It is a big step up and it is down to them to be committed and number two they have to be able to get ahead of players who have played at that level for a number of years.
“We are going to try and create a culture which is one club.
“Both teams will come together and there will be a similar playing style so if we do have to bring lads in from the reserves they will understand what their role will be.”
Cavanagh was previously assistant manager of fellow Step 5 side Barnoldswick Town for many years so he has dismissed any fears the new management team are not ready for NCEL football.
“Within the management set-up there is a lot of experience,” he said.
“Myself and Shaun Airey did ten years at local rivals Barnoldswick Town but that’s experience that can only have a positive effect.
“It wasn’t something I was expecting, but when the opportunity arose, it is something we had to jump at.
“It is a brilliant opportunity.
“As a joint management team we were running the reserves and our job was to develop the youngsters.
“When the committee asked us if we were interested in the role it was a no-brainer and natural progression.
“It is a great football club to be at and they are very supportive as a committee and hopefully this season we will be able to build on the foundations that Danny has built over the last five seasons and keep the club progressing.
“He created a culture where lads enjoyed coming into training and been part of it and it is about carrying it on and keep progressing as well as creating our own culture and vision.
“We want to create an attractive style of football so people come through the gate and enjoy watching Silsden.”