Spalding United supremo Pat Rayment reckons that he is in the midst of his worst-ever pre-season at the club.
A combination of other teams letting the Tulips down and player unavailability has left the UCL Premier Division champions undercooked – and at times embarrassed.
That has been the case this week, with Rayment branding last Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing at Deeping Rangers (see report on page 34) “disgusting”, while also seeing a hastily-arranged friendly with Elite Sports Academy called off on Tuesday.
With just over two weeks to the start of the Evo-Stik League First Division South campaign at Sutton Coldfield Town, Rayment is hoping that this Saturday’s Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field date with Wisbech Town (3pm) will allow him to field his best 11.
He said: “It’s the most difficult pre-season I’ve had here for sure. We just can’t seem to get games on or get our players on the pitch.
“Last Saturday’s game at Deeping was worrying too. About half of the lads didn’t look interested, which at this stage is disgusting – and odd.
“You really had to see it to believe it. It genuinely beggars belief and I’ve told them that I’m not having it.
“It wasn’t ideal that Tuesday’s game was off, as we really needed to get it out of our system.
“Wisbech will be a tough one this Saturday. I’ve said it before, but I believe they’ll be among the top UCL sides this year, along with Deeping.
“Touch wood, but at this stage I’ve got everyone available.
“We really need that to happen, as at the moment we have no other games arranged before our first league match.”
Rayment is hopeful that the Tulips will be able to sort out a friendly against a Peterborough United XI before the big kick-off, but is facing up to the prospect of going ‘gameless’ from Wisbech until Sutton Coldfield on August 16.
