MAR 11
Jay Joins Framlingham Town Promotion Bid
This article was written by the GreenUn at www.greenun24.co.uk.
Steve Jay has joined forces with Rob Allum to try and steer Framlingham Town towards Ridgeons League football.
The man who led Hadleigh United to the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League is joint manager with Allum at a Framlingham club that are currently fourth from bottom in the Senior Division.
Framlingham have one of the best pitches in the county plus a stand and floodlights, and have been geared up for advancement up the football ladder for some considerable while.
And Jay says that there are other reasons to look ahead with optimism.
“In long-serving secretary Fiona Whatling and club stalwart Syd Vice, Framlingham have some smashing people, and the squad is made up by a great bunch of lads,” said Jay.
“Everyone is working towards a move up the pyramid, and we know that it won't be this season.
“But perhaps next season, we will be aiming to make it a top-three finish.
“We'll give it a good go.”
Jay has not, however, committed himself to the Badingham Road-based club beyond this campaign.
He went on: “I've given it to the end of the season and I'm 100% committed.
“If we get on with each other's company I'll look to stay on with Rob.
“I was helping Tony Armstrong at Harwich and Parkeston earlier in the season until they folded - and it got me out of the house!
“I enjoyed it, but it was like trying to run with your legs chopped off.
“We couldn't bring anybody in as we never knew when the button was going to be pressed.”
Jay left Hadleigh just before the season started - and there is still a certain amount of bitterness over his departure.
He led them to second place in the First Division of the Ridgeons League last season and the indications were he would be helping them to cement their place in the top division.
“The job was left unfinished and I left them with a cracking side and one able to do well in the Premier Division,” said Jay, who gave an insight in what it takes to win awards in senior non-league football.
“We finished seventh in my first season and fourth the next season - just missing out on promotion.
“On both occasions we did not have a player budget.
“Last season I had £16,000 to play with - and although it is peanuts in Ridgeons League terms it got us up.
“I've had a clean break now from Hadleigh, and Framlingham is a new chapter for me.”
This article was written on March 11th, 2010 by GreenUn.
