After several weeks of uncertainty, the future is now looking bright for Pinchbeck United.
The Knights, promoted to the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division as Division One champions last season, have been boosted by the return of influential assistant boss Allan Ross – who has reversed his decision to walk away from the club.
Pinchbeck have also secured a lucrative sponsorship package that should see them have a “competitive” budget next season, added two new coaches to their backroom staff in Derek Nuttell and Ricky Lovelace, and have secured some much-needed matchday help.
Throw in an agreement with highly-rated striker Jordan Nuttell and player/boss Ian Dunn is feeling very positive about leading his side into their first-ever season at Step Five of the non-league ladder.
“Having Allan back is a massive boost for everyone,” enthused former Boston Town chief Dunn. “The success we’ve had here is as a two, not apart.
“We’re stronger together than we are on our own and obviously I’d have found things very hard without him.
“We push each other, test each other, question each other and don’t always agree with each other – which is absolutely vital.
“But we also had to make changes. Bringing Derek and Ricky in as coaches is a very important move.
“Derek is a very good coach and knows the non-league scene inside out. We’re very pleased to have him on board.
“Ricky has been with us as a player, but will now take on coaching duties too. He has a lot of different ideas and likes to study the game.
“He’ll also be a nice link between the players and the management team, which is vital.
“Stepping up a level, we knew that we’d need to improve off the field as well as on it. The teams in the Premier Division have bigger coaching teams, so it’s great we’ve been able to add to ours.
“We’re also looking to add four or five new faces to the squad – starting with Jordan Nuttell.”
The new sponsorship Pinchbeck have secured, which is a private agreement, will allow the Knights to improve their matchday package.
Although they currently share the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field with Spalding United, those that saw both teams play last season know that Pinchbeck’s fixtures felt much more low-key than those put on by the Tulips.
Dunn is hoping that additional help will allow the Knights to improve as they move into the Premier Division, as well as facilitating their growth as a club.
“We’ll have some extra committee members, some desperately-needed matchday help and more equipment,” added Dunn. “It’s fair to say that things had threatened to fall apart.
“But we’ve sorted a few things that needed to be done and the future of the club now looks much more healthy.
“Financially, we’re now a lot more sound and secure, while we’re working towards being sustainable.”
With the off-the-field issues seemingly sorted, Dunn can now focus on Pinchbeck’s first-ever season in the top flight of the UCL.
Having just secured back-to-back promotions, the player/boss would be forgiven if his sole aim next term was to avoid relegation.
But the former Spalding United, Holbeach United and Bourne Town hitman insists that setting up with the sole purpose of survival simply isn’t in the club’s DNA.
“That’s not in our make-up,” added Dunn. “I think that last season’s side, if we added nobody and kept everyone, would have a decent shot at finishing mid-table.
“But, if we can add four or five players to complement what we’ve got, I don’t see any reason why we can’t be pushing those teams in the top half.
“The aim is simply to push on and finish as high as we can.
“All of the players deserve a crack at it, so they’ll all be welcome back for pre-season and we’ll go from there. We are targeting specific areas – we need more goals in the side and some competition for Ollie Maltby.
“In Jordan (Nuttell), we have an agreement with somebody who has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the league.
“He’s a fantastic footballer and we will work hard with him to get the best out of him.”
“We also need a few defenders, especially as Ash Murrell needs an ankle operation.”
Pinchbeck are braced for raids from higher-raided teams, however. Two of their leading talents have been contacted by clubs playing above the UCL Premier Division, but Dunn is hopeful that they’ll stay and gain UCL Premier Division experience with his side.
