Look local, say back to basics Kendal

Kendal Town’s next manager will be home grown and focusing on recruiting local South Lakeland players to play in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

The members owned Mintcakes have announced they’re going ‘back to basics’ following calls from supporters as the hunt got underway to replace former manager Lee Ashcroft this week.

Ashcroft quit before switching to Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Northwich Victoria on Tuesday, prompting a major rethink of the club’s recruitment policy and overall ethos while reserve team manager David Foster holds the fort as caretaker for Saturday's league visit of high-flying Witton Albion.

Kendal Chairman Haydon Munslow revealed that the club had taken the decision after listening long and hard to the ‘consistent advice, requests and pleas of supporters’. They'd also been forced to take into account the economic realities of consistently attracting the lowest gates in the division and supporters unhappy that not a single member of their squad, who’ve won just five of their last thirty league outings, lives within 40 miles of Parkside Road.

As a result, Munslow says the manager handed the task of rebuilding the Mintcakes with be instructed by the managing committee to give local stars the chance to shine as they focus on looking local for players, sponsors and supporters over the coming seasons.

Munslow said: "Kendal Town FC evolved from the old K Shoes factory team. We want to recall again our long Netherfield history and get the community back behind its local senior football club. We will of course always bring in the best players we can afford to play in the men’s first team, but now they will complement and not exclude our local Kendalian talent.

"I am issuing a challenge today to players in the Westmorland and other local leagues to make yourself known. If you are good enough, there is nothing now preventing you playing for Kendal Town and on its floodlit northern stage.

Munslow also appealed to their local community to get behind the club more and back caretaker manager Foster, who lives and works locally, starting with this weekend's visit of Witton Albion.

"We have two exciting home games coming up on successive Saturdays. Witton Albion and Eastwood Town will be difficult opponents to beat but I'd urge our local fans to come along, get behind their team and engage again with their community club. Up the Mintcakes!"