Laughlin: We're back in business!

By David Watters

Belper Town's managing director Dave Laughlin reckons the Nailers are looking forward to their 2018-19 EVO-STIK League campaign with renewed optimism and fresh hope after bouncing back this summer.

The Nailers stalwart has been working to get the club back on track since a turbulent end to last season at Christchurch Meadow with the sacking of manager Aaron Webster the last act of chairman Alan Benfield and fellow directors Chris Balls and Paul Waldron before leaving after a bid to sell a major shareholding to a foreign investor fell through.

Laughlin, who's been involved since 1979 and was the EVO-STIK League East club's long-serving secretary, took over in the aftermath as managing director and has seen his work bear fruit, the Nailers since naming Grant Black as manager, unveiling two new local businessmen as directors, appointing a stadium manager and signing a host of new sponsorship deals including a stadium and first team kit partnership on Saturday with The Silver X Group.

Pictured alongside Black, Laughlin was hailing the club's summer turnaround even before the weekend's big sponsorship news and final pre-season friendly with Matlock Town, a defeat on penalties in the Caroline Melbourne Memorial Cup after the EVO-STIK League rivals drew 1-1. Looking back in an interview for the Belper News and club website, Laughlin told fans they'd appointed a "fantastic up-and-coming manager”.

Laughlin said: “I would urge local football people to come along to Christchurch Meadow and see just how much we have been able to turn things around and to feel the buzz around the club and I know they won’t be disappointed. Grant and his assistant Mick Norbury have recruited a group of talented players with plenty of experience of playing with the Evo-Stik League and higher.

"Pre-season displays have brought optimism that the team will more than hold their own in the new season. That combined with a new wave of optimism off the field, and the future suddenly looks bright after all of the upheaval at the end of previous season.”

Laughlin knew where his priorities lay when the Nailers ran into trouble at the end of last term, quickly appointing Ian Woodward and Guy Wimhurst as directors.

“The first job was to try to restore some additional strength to the boardroom and we therefore appointed two local businessmen as new directors of the club. Ian runs a local property maintenance company whilst Guy is a regional manager for the Co-op.

“The boardroom clearly needed an urgent injection of experience and knowhow, so we were delighted that Ian and Guy both agreed to come on board. Guy is the club’s new finance director whilst Ian’s brief is to modernise the stadium and bring our facilities up to scratch.

“Both men are passionate about football and are keen supporters of the club so they were aware of size of the rebuilding job needed. We also expect to announce two further directors over the next couple of weeks, to give added strength to our boardroom team.

“Steve Hunt was appointed as stadium manager and is responsible for all aspects of stadium management and safety. Along with Ian Woodward, Steve has embarked on a comprehensive stadium development and maintenance programme and is also working on a scheme to replace the spectator barriers around the pitch."

The Nailers host Morpeth Town on the opening day of the season and Laughlin also told supporters they could look forward to an enhanced matchday experience as their newly sponsored home thanks to their final key appointment.

He added: “A new public address system has been also been installed to improve the quality of entertainment for supporters. We were also delighted when Andy Hunt, no relation, joined the club to develop new marketing and publicity initiatives, including a complete rebranding of the club.

"Andy has redesigned all of the club’s marketing and publicity materials, including a brand new matchday programme design for next season. Our function room and conferencing facilities have been rebranded with customers also now able to self cater for their private parties and business events."

Images courtesy of @BelperTownFC/Twitter

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Six of our best kick off in the cup! Six of the EVO-STIK League newcomers have the honour of officially kicking off the competition's involvement in the new 2018-19 season this weekend in the Emirates FA Cup.

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