Town to pump up the volume
Nick Buxton says that Matlock Town were far too quiet as a team last season, but their two recent acquisitions should do much to make them more vocal on the field.
Buxton, part of a three-man management team, along with boss Mark Atkins and new signing Mark Haran, says that Haran, along with former skipper James Lukic, should not only strengthen the back four, but aid communication as well.
''Last season we were a very quiet side, no-one was talking,'' said Buxton, who will assist Atkins off the field while Haran plays.
''Keeper Paul Pettinger did his fair share of shouting but he became very frustrated when he felt he was the only one doing any talking.
''Mark Haran is a talker, a leader, and while he'll admit to not being the quickest of players, he'll get the lads going.
''That's what we've been lacking and I've also heard very good reports of Lukic.''
Buxton says the Gladiators have strengthened their ranks in a 'key area', but still praised Ryan Laight and Ashley Foyle who were the pairing in central defence at the end of the last campaign.
''The two lads who played there last year did very well.
''The team in general didn't get enough credit for the way they recovered towards the end of the season for half way through we were in dire straits.
''Last year a lot of people expected us to be relegated but at no time did Mark (Atkins) and me think we'd go down.
''Everyone worked hard and we were showing near play-off form after Christmas and finished strongly.
''But we felt that we needed that bit more experience and Mark Haran especially will give us that.''
Buxton was named as reserve goalkeeper to Pettinger after Andy Richmond departed for Glapwell, but he says that the management team will be looking to bring someone in as back up to Pettinger.
''Petts is a great goalkeeper but perhaps fans didn't see him at his best in some games as he was playing with an ankle injury which is unusual for him as he very rarely gets injured.
''We'll be looking to bring somebody in though at the right money.
''We've had a young goalkeeper enquire about coming to pre-season training and when we watched the reserves and U19s the other week there were a couple of lads there that will probably train with us.''
The Matlock squad return for pre-season training after the summer break on Saturday and Buxton is expecting a good turn out as a host of trialists who have contacted the club and have been sought by the management hope to impress.
The Gladiators have a busy pre-season programme of games totalling nine with a visit to Armthorpe Welfare being squeezed in on Wednesday, July 29.
''It's busy but we've done this because Mark Haran misses around two weeks of pre-season and we want him to get some matches in before he goes and after he gets back.''
Meanwhile, it was confirmed late last week that the UniBond Premier Division will have just 21 clubs when First Division North play-off winners Newcastle Blue Star resigned, just days after the League AGM.
Newcastle needed to repay the Football Stadia Improvement Fund an amount exceeding 60k for improvements to their former Wheatsheaf ground, before a subsequent move to Kingston Park, home of Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club.
With the composition of other leagues already confirmed, it was not possible to move a club up to replace Blue Star.
It therefore appears likely that only three teams will be relegated from the top tier this term.
The fixtures for the season are expected to be announced on July 15.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
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Wind direction: South west
