Manager Steve Watson has offered supporters a summer update as preparations ramp up for the 2025/26 season – with recruitment, goals, and the importance of Boost The Budget high on the agenda.

Speaking with Stuart Armstrong, Steve opened up on the hard graft that goes on behind the scenes at this time of year, admitting that while the work is intense, the process of building a competitive squad takes time.

“It’s a lot of phone calls, emails and WhatsApps,” said Steve. “You’re talking to agents, players you’re trying to bring in, and players you’re trying to keep. There’s a lot of digging – going on football data websites, reviewing performances – but it moves slowly.”

Watson and assistant Terry Mitchell are using a combination of scouting, contacts, and analysis to identify the right players – but geography and logistics remain key factors.

“We’re not full-time, and we don’t have club housing, so recruitment has to be smart,” Steve explained. “Almost everyone on our list is based in the North East or North, because travel and commitment need to be manageable.”

Improving on last season

The Quakers finished 11th in 2024/25, and Steve believes the side showed enough at times to suggest the building blocks are there.

“There were spells where we were in and around it, and we even got into the top seven briefly. We competed with everyone – beat Kidderminster, Chester, South Shields, Spennymoor – but defensive errors crept in late on, and the biggest issue was goals.

“We just didn’t score enough, and that wasn’t just the strikers – that’s a team thing.”

The manager says boosting the team’s attacking threat is a clear priority this summer.

“We’ve got talented players in Heads and Griff – we want them higher up the pitch, more advanced, more dangerous. Cedric showed he can cause real problems cutting in from wide. Jack’s developing well too. It’s about adding forwards who can operate across the front line and finding a bit more creativity behind them.”

Steve pointed out that another 10–15 goals across the season could have made all the difference.

Boost The Budget: What difference does it make?

The conversation turned to Boost The Budget and the impact it has on what happens on the pitch.

“It’s as simple as anything – the better the budget, the better the quality of player we can bring in,” said Steve. “We’ve got targets who can make a difference. If we hit the budget, we can get them. If we don’t, we can’t.

“We’re not talking fantasy football here. We’re not sitting on a massive war chest. But the lads we’re after are the right ones, and Boost The Budget helps us get them over the line.”

Watson added that while some new signings may come in early, others – particularly loan deals from higher-level clubs – will arrive closer to the start of the season.

The pitch – and the plan

Another challenge from last season was the pitch, but Steve is optimistic that improvements will pay dividends.

“From February onwards, it was suiting the away teams more than us. At times, it turned games into a lottery – every pass was a gamble.

“Now, with the work going on, we think we can play the type of football we want. A better surface helps us, and it might even be worth half a dozen extra points across the season.”

As for his ambition?

“Last summer, we were cautious – we’d just stayed up. But this season is different. We’ve moved up five places, and if things go right over the next few weeks, there’s no reason we can’t push on again. Play-offs has to be the aim.”

Pre-season on the horizon

The squad is due to return to training in early July, with the 2024/25 campaign set to kick off on Saturday August 9th.

Boost The Budget remains open, and every contribution makes a direct impact. Supporters can back the campaign here.

“We couldn’t be more grateful,” said Steve. “We wouldn’t have a club without it, and we certainly wouldn’t have a competitive team.”

You can watch the full interview here: