AFC Fylde New Contract for Challinor

Ambitious Evo-Stik Premier newcomers AFC Fylde have rewarded Manager Dave Challinor with a 3 year contract after guiding them to promotion last season.

Challinor joined the Warton based club in November 2011 and guided them to the Championship despite being 16 points adrift when he took over the reins from Kelham O’Hanlon.

Challinor was delighted with the club’s offer. ” I'm delighted to be able to sign a contract and commit to the football club for the foreseeable future. Since arriving at the club just over 8 months ago, things couldn't really have gone any better. We've been made to feel incredibly welcome by everybody associated. Everybody is pushing in the same direction to move the club forward and right from when the job became available, we wanted to be part of that.

Everybody who knows me and Colin know what our ambitions are, we want to be involved full-time in football and be back in the football league where we've spent most of our careers. We have the opportunity to do that here and be part of something very special. Nothing would give us greater pleasure than to take the club onward and upward and realise David and Dais' vision for this football club.

There are many people that make the place tick on a daily basis but they're the ones that have injected money into the club and although I've only known the two of them for the short time I’ve been here, I trust them, I enjoy working for them immensely and I share their passion for success. In terms of negotiations, it was very easy, something along the lines of "we'd like to secure you on a contract, is it something we can talk about?" My response "yes, where do we sign". Yes it is security for both ourselves and the club but most importantly for us, it's a commitment that we can put plans in place for the longer term, players have continuity and everyone has a vision of how we move forward as a club.

The success we had last season was just deserts for all the hard work people do behind the scenes and I can't thank them enough for that. Hopefully we can replicate that this season and beyond and continue to improve both on and off the pitch.”

He is now focused on the new challenge next season as the Coasters look to continue their momentum at Step 3. “Our ambitions for the coming season are probably the same as at least half of the teams in the division and that's to get promoted. Whether that be by finishing top of the league or via the play-offs, that's the aim. In order to do that, we have to improve as a group and through the experience we had a Colwyn Bay, consistency of performance is essential. Yes we'll need a bit of luck along the way but we've a good group who want to do well for each other. They know what we'll demand from them individually and collectively and if. They take things on board I know there's the ability in our dressing room to compete. “
Club Chairman, David Haythornthwaite, said, “From the moment we met Dave and later on Colin, we knew there was something special about them and this has proved to be the case. My respect for them both is well documented and I believe we have a great future together. Dave and Colin have our total support and trust because they’ve earned it, not only on the field, but off it. Trust is a very important word in life, but probably the most important word in football.

After starting pre-season with a 1-0 win over Chester at the weekend the Coaster’s next Home Pre-season Fixture is AFC FYLDE v WIGAN ATHLETIC XI this Friday 20th July Kick Off 7.30pm Admission £8 Adults £5 Concessions £3 12-16 Year Olds U12’s/Armed Forces FREE.

Picture shows David Haythornthwaite Club Chairman and Dave Challinor on the signing of the new contract.