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Club sets its sights on return to the top
Keighley Shamrocks are finding themselves looking ahead to next season after a dismal campaign that has seen the club relegated from the Premier Division of the West Riding County Amateur League.
The Shammies struggled to adapt to life in the Premier Division and have only earned 15 points from 27 games with a defence that has shipped 86 goals, 18 more than second from bottom Tyersal.
Shamrocks' chairman Andy Gaughan said: "We went into the season with our eyes half open. The standard of the Premier Division is superb and if we're going to go back we've got to be ready for it."
Gaughan said the Shammies have used a massive 60 players this season and the club also struggled to cope with the loss of players through suspension.
Gaughan added: "We had different personnel every week."
He and his manager, Gavin Finn, said clubs need a strong squad to survive in the Premier Division.
Finn said the Shammies started the season without several players, three who retired (Gary Lund, Mostyn Hockey and goalkeeper Jason Moore) and one who left the club, Steve Hardaker.
During the season Shammies lost key performer Richard Chattoe, who took a coaching role at Silsden AFC, striker Neil Rollins, who suffered a long-term injury; and Neil Grayston, who joined Bridlington Town.
Finn said: "It left us with quite a big void to fill. We learned a lot this year. We went up without any players of that level. If we come up we need to be a lot stronger."
Gaughan and Finn said the club could be bringing in Jason McNulty as a manager next season.
McNulty has an impressive track record with Silsden AFC's Sunday team, who won the Keighley & District Sunday Cup final with a 3-1 victory against AC Victoria at the weekend.
Finn also said that a settled side could help achieve promotion.
He said: "Every team in Keighley is unsettled this year. There's been no sort of commitment from players this season.
"Players switch about from one team to another. It's not ideal for clubs. Hopefully that will change next year."
2:11pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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