Townsend prepared to bide time - The Evesham Observer

Townsend prepared to bide time

Evesham Editorial 20th Jul, 2017   0

QUENTIN TOWNSEND hopes priceless opportunity rather than big pay packets will tempt stars of the future to Pershore Town.

The Town manager admits he has been outbid by several clubs in his search for a centre forward to help fill the gap left by the exit of last season’s top scorer Jamie Clarke.

However, Townsend is confident players will be available at the right price by the start of the Midland League Division One season on August 5 and he hopes to have three new recruits – two forwards and a midfielder – in the line-up for the home friendly against Kidderminster Harriers tonight (Friday) (7.45pm).

The potential signings have experience at a higher level but the youngsters are looking to play more regular football – and that is Pershore’s biggest selling point.




“Getting a proven striker is going to take a lot of money and I won’t get into a bidding war,” said Townsend.

“I’ve been outbid for five or six strikers I’ve been after. Travelling is an issue too when I’ve been after players from around the Redditch or Bromsgrove area when there are clubs on their doorstep.


“But I’ve got plans in place and situations always evolve around the end of July and start of August.

“We’ll have a couple of youngsters from a higher level playing against Kidderminster. They want to play football and that’s something we can offer. We give youngsters an opportunity that other clubs might not want to and to develop as a player it’s better to play.

“If the youngsters come in and score 20-25 goals then it puts them in the shop window.”

Pershore’s first home friendly last weekend ended with a 7-0 defeat to Worcester City but Townsend admitted the strength in depth was the difference between the sides.

Town had matched their neighbours until two defensive errors were punished and then City bagged five goals in 20 minutes late on as a flurry of changes were introduced.

“With the two teams playing their strongest XI in the first half I was relatively happy,” said Townsend. “City’s subs came on and they looked really sharp and we couldn’t match them.

“But I’m not fussed about scorelines at this stage of pre-season. You learn more about your players by a defeat against higher opposition than going somewhere and winning 10-0.”

Holidays will interrupt Townsend’s preparations against Harriers with Dean Waldron, Mitch Butterworth, Chris Good, Steve Roche, Joe Adams and James Walker absent while Ben Lane will not be risked after picking up a niggle. He could return in Tuesday’s trip to Wolves Casuals.

Meanwhile, Pershore will kick off the new competitive season on August 5 by meeting the team they ended last term playing against.

Town will entertain Heather St John’s on the first Saturday and then make the short trip to Studley the following Tuesday before heading to Bolehall Swifts on August 12.

Pershore have been drawn at home to Bromsgrove Sporting in the first round of the Polymac Packaging League Cup on September 19 and will face Tenbury United at home in the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup.

Are you on Facebook?

Like or follow our Facebook page - facebook.com/EveshamObs to get daily news updates straight to your news feed.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Evesham Observer.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Evesham Observer newspaper.