Northern League
Steve Roberts says Pickering Town are back on track after a nightmare summer on the recruitment front following the club’s move to the Northern League.
The signings of Paul Roddam and former Whitby Town favourite Jamie Poole has lifted the dark clouds over Mill Lane.
Roberts told NLY in June that he had contacted over 20 North East-based players without success but now he’s lot happier and feels an influx of bodies is due to start.
“We were in a difficult place and it was difficult to replace the players we had lost,” Roberts told Non League Yorkshire.
“But you get the first one over the line and it opens the pathway to two-or-three more.
“I spoke to Paul Roddam first and he mentioned Jamie Poole and I spoke to him and he signed and then Roddam signed.
“They bring that Northern League experience and open a few more doors for us straightaway.
“The signings have put the club back in a positive frame of mind again because it was tough.
“There was doom and gloom and we were struggling in certain pre-season games because we had to field young sides featuring five-or-six scholarship lads who aren’t ready for that level of football yet.
“But now with getting (Roddam and Poole in), they are hopefully the first of a few.
“If we sign two this week we’re probably only two-or-three away.
“We probably need a number nine striker and another winger.”
The Northern League is uncharted territory for Pickering whose first game is at Bishop Auckland on Saturday.
Roberts is pinning his flag on a top half finish.
“Now with the group starting to come together I’m a lot more positive,” he said.
“The top half is definitely achievable with the group we are getting together.
“It depends then how we start off in the first few weeks of the season.
“We have got the same situation as always as we are away for the first six or eight Saturdays.
“We are away until the cricket finishes but I’m a lot more confident now after seeing how we were against (last week’s win over) Tadcaster.”
Roberts, who has thanked former Bradford City owner and Flamingo Land chief Gordon Gibb, the club’s main sponsor, for his unwavering support, admits the recruitment situation has tested him to the limit.
“100% it has been the toughest pre-season I’ve ever had and mentally it has drained me at times,” he said.
“You want to do right by the club. Any manager who gets relegated, the club is within its right to sack you but they stuck by me to try and take the club back to the (NPL).
“You feel you owe them.
“It has been tough mentally but I told the chairman that no matter how many knock-backs I get, I would go for the next player.
“It is nice to have now got people in and I’m looking forward to the challenge now we have strengthened.
“We think we have a good platform now.”
Omar Sanyang could be in a position to play again for Pickering a couple of months into the campaign.
Sanyang broke his leg playing for Pickering earlier this year and the club raised over £1000 to help him financially.
“He’s about two months away from being fit,” Roberts said.
“He’s currently doing bits of work at Bradford (Park Avenue) where he is seeing their physio as it is close to where lives.
“They’re looking after his rehab.
“He’s discussed coming as a dual-reg signing to get back match fit as he feels the club a debut of gratitude and he isn’t going to be ready for National North straightaway.”