Gee: Wrens feel at home now

Rainworth Miners Welfare manager Kevin Gee believes his Wrens are now fully paid up members of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, writes Gordon Foster.

With the Wrens likely to face an enforced mini-break this weekend following the return of the bad weather, Wrens manager Kevin Gee, pictured, has taken time out to reflect on the season so far. He insists he's found plenty of cause for encouragement nearly three years after the Wrens were promoted into the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's First Division South from the Northern Counties East League.

A contented but still ambitious Gee said: "I think everything about the season so far has been successful for us, both off and on the field. The recent plaudits received from Buxton officials on their first visit to Kirklington Road reinforced that and we can genuinely be considered now a respected member club of the Evo-Stik league. Normally my role as manager of the football club would be to just concentrate on results on the field, which ultimately is what I'll be judged upon. But through my previous experiences there is a bigger picture than that.

"On the football side we have set targets all season, and the fantastic group of players that we have here have achieved and exceeded them, but with the business end of the season now upon us we have to ensure that the last quarter targets are achievable. I believe that the five teams that currently hold the top five positions will be the same at the end of the season, so realistically now, even though we will try to win every game, I think if we could manage to retain a top ten finish that we have held for most of the season, that would be a fantastic achievement in my first full season at the club.

"However, in addition to our own Notts Senior Cup competition in which we have strong opportunities to progress, we are also in the last 16 of the Doodson Sport Cup, where we visit our neighbours Eastwood Town. So it would be nice to stay in that competition a a little longer also. However, the objective this season was to be competitive and see if we could finish mid-table, which hopefully will be achieved.

"More importantly we need to work hard between now and the rest of the season to try to generate additional income and resources with a view to taking the club into the higher realms of a top six finish with a sustainable budget. The chairman and I have already looked at a few avenues that we will continue to explore over the coming months. We still have a lot to play for this year, but with our continuing membership virtually assured due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding other member clubs, we can go into the last 16 games with no fear and see where that takes us."