News: Contracts

Preparations for the 2015/2016 campaign are well under way and the club have moved swiftly to tie numerous first team members down to a contract. First team manager Michael Clegg has put pen to paper alongside squad members Mark Battersby, Danny Taberner, Jake Kenny, Ben Hardcastle, Kristian Holt and Josh Messer. Speaking on behalf of the club, manager Clegg said, “There are a variety of reasons we have moved to sign players on a contract. The squad here is young, local and the players have all got the potential to play at a far higher level.” “We could have offered more contracts but injuries have stopped that for the time being; we may go back and offer something if individuals prove their worth over the next few weeks.” “We believe, that to progress as a club, we need a structure which will bring stability. These lads are the future of the club.” “The more experienced players such as Mark Truffas and Brad Cooke are more than aware of this and they support the idea wholeheartedly.” “They experienced players know that the younger lads have been in demand but they also know how crucial they are to their development.” “It is a close knit group, from the players down to the fans, and we want everybody to stick together.” “I have mentioned the issue with niggling injuries with a few of the players and cited this as a reason for not handing out more contracts. However, if we could tie everybody down to one, then we would, but that is impossible for a club playing at this level.” “Ultimately, everybody knows the structure being created and everybody is happy about that.” Speaking on a personal level, Clegg has talked about his reasons for signing a contract, “I have committed to the club for obvious reasons” he said. “This is my hometown club. I am from Atherton and I live in Atherton and I have a sense of pride in steering my local club in the right direction.” “We have a fantastic community spirit here in Atherton and I am really proud to be the manager of this club.” “Except for the obvious likes of FC United and Stockport County, I strongly believe that we can grow this club to be as big as any other non-league side in the local area (in terms of success and crowds).” “We have an unbelievable group of players and I want to nurture and develop them. With the help of the club and my coaching staff I really do believe the next few years could be exciting at this club.” “Warren and Scott are sticking with me this season and we also now have Andy Heald on the coaching side of the team, which is an added bonus for everybody involved.” By Joseph Gibbons