Toolstation NCEL Division One
Alex Nightingale wants to repay the faith the Swallownest committee showed him during his difficult first season in charge.
Nightingale, one of the youngest managers in the league, endured a nightmare as Swall’ spent effectively the entire campaign in a relegation battle.
They only survived due to a positive run of results towards the end of the season.
“Absolutely (other clubs may have changed manager), Nightingale told Non League Yorkshire.
“Massive credit to the club for keeping me in and looking after me.
“They have been brilliant, Wayne Coyle especially. He has looked after me a lot and I owe him quite a lot to be fair.
“It has been tough, but everything worthwhile is a pill.
“I want to repay them.
““I had an unbelievable amount (of sleepless nights).
“Especially in your first season as a manager you question everything.
“Off-the-field we have made a load of positive changes.
“We have brought in a lot of people which is making a big difference.
“I was probably naive last year.
“We lost a few players in the early games and that cost us a lot because you’re playing catch-up then.
“So I’m hoping this season we can keep a core group and have consistency.”
Experience is a key theme in Swallownest’s recruitment.
Conner Williamson, Leighton Sawyer, James Bytheway and Cameron Hawkes fit that bill.
“Our recruitment has been good and we have brought in quite a few bodies,” he said.
“I think we hopefully look a lot more stronger than last year.
“We have brought in more experience.
“We needed more experience at this level and we have gone out and got them.
“There’s still people missing during pre-season because of holidays so we haven’t fully pieced it together yet.”