National North
Russ Wilcox says pulling off the great escape with Farsley Celtic last season is one of his best achievements in management.
Farsley were cut adrift at the bottom of the table and seemingly doomed when Wilcox was appointed in February.
Miraculously the highly-experienced boss, who led Scunthorpe United to promotion out of League Two in 2014, rejuvenated a failing side and the Celts survived after the nerve-wracking final day.
“It ranks right up there,” Wilcox told Non League Yorkshire.
“Personally, I like to think I have been successful in all three of my manager jobs.
“I got Scunthorpe promoted on the back of a 28-game unbeaten run which when you look back on that eight years later you say ‘wow’.
“People go eight games unbeaten, but 28 games is massive credit to the lads in that team.
“I went into York City in League Two and they had won one game in the previous 17 so to get them comfortably to safety with four games to spare, I think it is probably a better achievement than the Scunthorpe one because I went in as a lone solider.
“At Scunthorpe I had been the number two (to Brian Laws) and I knew the lads and I knew what made them tick and what didn’t.
“At York I didn’t and it was a fresh challenge and eye-opener, but I did a good job.
“Then Farsley last season, I’ll be honest it was a difficult decision to take the job.
“I ummed and ahhed because you looked at their position and they hadn’t won for three months, but then I flipped it the other and thought ‘if they can finish above one team, it is an achievement.
“A few people thought I was crazy (taking the job) and there were a few funny looks from the wife, ‘what are you doing’ kind of thing.
“I think most people wrote Farsley off.
“When I took over in February, some clubs may have thought ‘Farsley are going to go so we can start planning for next season’.
“That’s wasn’t the case and great credit to the players.
“It was difficult and when I went in I think there were only seven contracted players so we had to add to the squad.
“The signings we made – the Kennedy Digie, Lewis Butroid, Frank Mulhern – played a big part along with the existing lads like Dave Syers, Jimmy Spencer, Adam Clayton who have been at the club for a few years.
“They dug deep and we managed to get over-the-line.
“I’m really pleased I did take (the job).
“There is some really good staff and volunteers at the football club who work their socks off.
“The fans were outstanding and they got behind the team from the day I took over.”
So far eight of the players from the great escape are staying for next season.
Chris Atkinson, Adam Clayton, Jimmy Spencer, Luke Parkin, Lewis Turner, Tom Allan, Dave Syers and Lewis Butroid form the foundations of the team.
Whilst some managers will clambering over each other for new players, Wilcox is taking a calm approach as he looks to add to his squad.
“(Recruitment) is going okay,” he said.
“It is always a difficult time for managers.
“You have targets and some you lose, some you gain and we have done okay up to now.
“We still need to work (on improving) the wide areas and the top end of the pitch.
“(Eight) lads have re-signed which is great and we’re working day-to-day trying to get people in.
“It is difficult working under the budget we’re working under, you do lose out because money talks like always.
“We’re hoping to bring four-or-five if we can.
“We might have to be patient.
“I spoke to an agent last night and he said ‘you’re the most relaxed manager I have spoken to in this period’.
“I said that sometimes you don’t dive in and you take your time with recruitment and wait a bit longer for the loan players from Football League clubs which we are hoping to do.”
The National North certainly won’t get easier for Farsley as the Division now has 24 clubs and will arguably be stronger because of the teams arriving into it.
Wilcox is well-aware of the challenge ahead.
“(Expanding the league) only benefits the bigger clubs, the ones with the bigger squads,” he said.
“You have 46 games and four teams get relegated.
“It will be difficult and a tough task
“It is an unfair playing field if you like.
“You have your full-time clubs and clubs who are part-time but have fairly big budgets.
“It is going to be a tough challenge but I enjoyed it last season.
“We’re looking to build, that’s the key.
“You have to try and build and get better each season.
“(The aim is) is to be better than we were last season and to finish a lot higher.
“You never know.
“I thought we competed well against the big boys – we beat Kidderminster and I thought we performed well against York and Boston in the latter games.
“We ran out of players at the end of the season to be honest and that’s why I’m trying to build a bigger squad and have more players under contract.
“I thought there were too many players on non-contract terms and you could lose them at any moment.
“(With contracted players) you know where you are week-to-week and know the players will be with you all season.”
Farsley kick off their pre-season schedule with a trip to Eccleshill United on Saturday 2nd July.
Clashes against Worksop Town, Thorne Colliery, Tonbridge Angels, Grantham Town and Scunthorpe then follow.