Blyth Spartans have beaten and extended their longest winning sequence to 15 games (and still going on). Spartans have had some scares, 2-0 down to both Braintree and Dover but coming back to thrillingly win 4-3. The run began after a disappointing loss to Lincoln, but since then the squad responded from a chastening by manager, Olly Hunter by sweeping away all in their path. Next up is Grimsby, and Blyth will hope to avenge the defeat at Blundell Park earlier in the season and continue the winning streak.
The run leaves Blyth Spartans top of the BSP, 18 points clear of The Mariners and looking nailed on for promotion.
January was a relatively quiet month in the transfer martket for Blyth Spartans with just 5 players brought in and 3 leaving. Liam O'Brien had 7 weeks on the sidelines after suffering fractured ribs, so summer signing Scott Bain deputised between the posts. He performed solidly, but nothing spectacular so when Hearts came along with £55K, their hand was snapped off and Bain became Blyth's record transfer sale.
To cover Bain's departure youngster Connor Ripley was brought in. Hermann Depré, a young powerful striker from amateur club AC Amiens replaced the outgoing ageing Badawassi Lorie. American midfielder Sebastian Lletget, formerly of West Ham, was also recruited as Stéphane Potier was sold to Gillingham as his stats were rapidly falling (because traing facilities are appalling and Blyth Spartans is still a semi-professional club).
The Marquee signing however was Jérémy Hélan. The Frenchman, a quick talented, left sided player joined after being inexplicably released by Man City. Many will remember him from FM10 as a must signing, so I'm chuffed with this major coup.
Some of you have commented of my Francophile squad and how unusual it is for the BSP. If players, who are better than the current offerings and are willing to cross the Channel to come to Blyth, then I'm more than happy to have them. After promotion to the Football League it may become a problem with the home-grown rules, but for now my French-heavy squad is doing the job in getting me there. Just call me the lower league Arsène Wenger!
Lastly I am a little worried. March is approaching, my £575 p/w contract expires at the end of June and I still haven't been offered a new one. This has happened before and April/May it gets extended but I feel I'm building a legacy with Blyth Spartans and dont want to risk anything by asking for a new contract. It also doesn't help that the media are speculating continuously.
Lastly I am a little worried. March is approaching, my £575 p/w contract expires at the end of June and I still haven't been offered a new one. This has happened before and April/May it gets extended but I feel I'm building a legacy with Blyth Spartans and dont want to risk anything by asking for a new contract. It also doesn't help that the media are speculating continuously.
2 comments:
That really is some run you're on. Hopefully you can keep it up and finish the season on a real high.
It just ended MRDNA - 24 wins on the trot until Histon spoiled the dream with a 1-1 draw.
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