Spalding United manager Elliot Sandy has urged his players to show up or get out ahead of a ‘massive day’ for the club.
The Tulips host Telford on Saturday at the Sir Halley Stewart whom, Sandy says, are the favourites for the Southern Leaguer Central Premier Division title.
He’s hopeful of getting more players in after a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday.
After an even opening, a lovely lofted ball through was latched on to by Charlie Wragg, a loanee from League Two side Walsall.
He beat the Spalding defence and then the keeper to give the hosts a 34th minute lead.
Breedon was the busier keeping saving particularly well twice from Wragg who was gifted acres of space.
Lewis Darlington went close to an equaliser for Spalding but was denied by a good save.
Crucially on the hour Bromsgrove were handed a penalty, the referee adjudging the ball glanced off Nathan Stainfield’s hand when his arm was by his side after being hit at him from close range.
Sandy later used a slow motion replay to call the decision out on social media, though also acknowledged it ‘may have changed nothing’.
Breedon guessed the right way but the penalty was right in the corner.
Any hopes Spalding had were effectively ended when Sam Warburton was sent off for a second yellow card with eight minutes remaining.
After the 4-0 loss at it Kettering it means it’s two defeats in a row on the road after the opening day home win.
“It’s really disappointing,” Sandy said. “I was hoping for a reaction from Tuesday.
“It was just a poor performance.
“I and the club want to be successful or I have to get lads in who want to play for the shirt, me and the club to push it on.
“I’ll be looking to strengthen.
“We’re learning quickly how tough the league is.
“There are experienced teams in this league who find ways of winning, which Bromsgrove did.
“We have to improve very quickly.
“All we can do is work hard, I know what we need to work on, and get a few new faces in the door.
“The lads now have to show how much they want to be here, and if they don’t we say our goodbyes.
“Some last year were great for me, they’ll always have that and they’ve been fantastic in being a champion.
“But I need champions now, week in, week out and at every training session and game.
“Everything in training is about being winners. If they lose they do forfeits.
“I’m a winner myself and I’m hurting more than anyone and I’m determined to get it right.”
Sandy called Telford the ‘favourites for the league’.
“It’s a massive day for the club to be at a level playing a club like Telford.”
Meanwhile its been announced that The Tulips have agreed a new 25-year lease with the Sir Halley Stewart’s owners South Holland District Council.
The club hopes that the new, longer team, deal for the lease of the site will allow it to bid for more funding and develop the ground, including any needed to allow promotion to higher levels.
Andrew Killingsworth, chairman of Spalding United said: “From day one we have shown an interest in taking more ownership of the Sir Halley Stewart, not only to help our growth as a club but the growth of the local community as a whole.
“It’s a significant project and one we look forward to engaging as many people as possible with, so the club can grow in tandem with the town.
“This is another piece in the jigsaw that we needed to maximise the opportunity that has been presented to us all.”
Tulips: Breedon, Dawes, Warburton, Walker, Stainfield, White, Barker, Draper, Winters, Ngandu, Darlington. Subs: Cartwright, Ezewele, Graham, Bennett, Sandy.
Attendance: 604.
