Six point total is Clowes’ target for 2012-13 after erratic season
HAVING stabilised the club in his first season in charge, Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes is looking to kick on next term, writes Dave McLean.
When he took up the Marston Road challenge last summer, after the club’s relegation from the Blue Square North, Clowes had a three-year plan, but admitted this week that the first year had ended a little disappointingly.
It has been a very inconsistent campaign for Clowes with Rangers having failed to win any of their opening six games and finding themselves third bot- tom in the Evo Stik premier by the end of August.
It was a big eye-opener for Clowes and his assistant Doz Garner, who had never managed at this level, but they gradually began to turn things around.
On their travels, Rangers won five successive league games, more than one against the league’s leading contenders and ten points from four matches in January earned Clowes the manager of the month award.
But it was the way Rangers rounded off the season that left Clowes totally frustrated.
The team won only two of their last 14 matches, leaving them in 16th spot on the final day, six points above the drop zone.
Clowes said: “Our first priority will be to get off to a better start and so build our confidence.
“Next season I’ll be looking for us to reach a minumum of 60 points and the following year the play-offs.
“I’ve learned a lot in my first season at this level and I admit I’ve made mistakes, but I also feel the club has made some improvements.
“The fact that we didn’t get off to the best of starts didn’t help and it was a relief when we won our first game against Marine (start of September).”
