CURZON Ashton chairman Wayne Salkeld has urged the local community to support the team and assemble en masse for what he labels as the biggest game in the club’s history.
The Nash face Gloucester City at the Tameside Stadium on Saturday, April 13 with the knowledge a victory would take them within touching distance of cementing a play-off spot, making history in the process.
Craig Mahon’s side occupies the last remaining place and has a three-point cushion on Chester, Boston United and Spennymoor Town, who are placed directly below them.
However, as Boston and Spennymoor each have a game in hand, the mathematical ramifications become somewhat complex and so the message from Wayne to the players and coaching staff is simple – put in maximum effort, win the remaining two games and see where it takes them.
On paper, Curzon could not have asked for a better end to the season as both teams – Gloucester and Bishop’s Stortford – are rooted to the foot of the table with relegation already confirmed.
But that is not to say it will be a walk in the park – quite the opposite.
Wayne believes these types of scenarios have all the hallmarks of a potential banana skin as players will be looking to earn new contracts as the season comes to a close.
He is therefore urging Curzon’s players to be fully focused on the tasks at hand and push the club to newfound heights – enabled, of course, by a noisy crowd inside the Tameside Stadium this weekend.
Speaking to The Correspondent ahead of the clash, he said: “It’s very simple really – we’ve got to go about our business and win our remaining two games.
“Whatever happens, regardless of if we reach the play-offs or not, we’re on course for our best league finish and that’s what it’s all about – steady progression and becoming better.
“I’m urging everyone in the local area to come to the game, support the team and help us secure a vital three points.
“By doing so, we could be heading to Bishop’s Stortford for the final game of the season with a play-off position just 90 minutes away.
“The town’s support will be more valuable than ever, as you never know what could happen against relegated teams.
“They’ve both got nothing to lose and could field a younger side with players who want to prove their worth.
“Some of the lads might also be playing for contract extensions, so you can take nothing for granted and have to take them just as seriously as you would with a side competing for promotion.
“We just have to collect two wins – it’s as simple as that.”
Based on results throughout the season, combined with a current record of 11 games unbeaten away from home, the omens look promising for Mahon’s side.
But make no mistake – nothing will be taken for granted and the players, according to Wayne, will need to be at their best and maintain the standards evidenced throughout the campaign.
He added: “The camaraderie we have within the team is unbelievable. We’ve got the second smallest budget in the league and we’re still competing among the biggest teams in the league with better resources and larger budgets.
“We’ve come to learn that having lots of money at your disposal doesn’t always guarantee success. Creating a good environment and recruiting a strong group of players who share the same beliefs and objectives is what has taken us to our best league position so far.
“If players want to represent the club, then we’re more than happy for them to be here.
“However, if they want to leave and pursue bigger wages, by all means they’re welcome to do that. What this club does is provide stability.
“Stefan Mols – who has scored 15 goals this season – was at Warrington last season on the bench. Before that he was a scholar at Blackburn Rovers and earning good money, but he’s come to us, taken advantage of the platform we’ve provided, and worked hard to prove himself.
“Devan Matthews, who arrived from Mossley, has established himself into, in my opinion, one of the best defenders in the league.
“I’m surprised no-one has come in for him, but if a club does take interest and seeks his talent, they’ll have to pay for him as he’s contracted.
“Isaac Sinclair is another player who has come on leaps and bounds and played a massive role, especially in recent games, of giving us every chance of reaching the play-offs.”
Although the season has yet to finish, the club is currently in talks with numerous players surrounding contract extensions.
If anything, it’s a clear sign of the club’s intent to preserve the nucleus of a squad which will, regardless of this season’s outcome, strive for bigger things in the coming years.
And judging by Wayne’s analysis, it could well be in the plans to centre a team around forward Jimmy Spencer, who recently confirmed his loyalty with a contract extension until 2025.
The former Football League product, who lists Notts County, Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United as previous clubs, signed for the Nash in 2023 and has since become a fan’s favourite.
Mahon himself has also labelled the 32-year-old as the best striker in the league – a sentiment echoed by Wayne as well.
He added: “We’re currently in discussions with other players at the moment to extend their contracts. We recently extended the contract of Jimmy, who has been a massive catalyst in our success, and I’d argue that, as a club, he’s the best signing we’ve made for a lot of reasons.
“Adam Barton, Jordan Richards, and Marcus Poscha are some of the older lads who have that experience to push us forward and provide the younger lads with the support they need.
“Josh Ollerenshaw has come into the squad and filled the void perfectly. We’re blessed to have Josh as an older goalkeeper, because you’ll usually find that a backup goalkeeper is younger and could potentially struggle when thrown in at such an important time of the season.
“He’s had a number of clean sheets recently which has really maintained our charge to the playoffs. He wants to end his career with us, so hopefully he can be part of a team which achieves the objective of making the playoffs and writes his name into the history books.”
If the club achieves its objectives of reaching the play-offs and securing promotion, would the extra travelling across the country in a nationalised league cause any financial problems?
It is a question that is difficult to answer as the club, during its 54-year history, has never faced such issues.
But with potentially lengthy trips to Maidenhead United, Dagenham and Redbridge and Eastleigh, it is a question which needs addressing and one, to his credit, Wayne answers truthfully.
He said: “If we are to achieve promotion and play against teams across the country, I would be realistic and say it would be difficult to finance.
“However, we would pursue all options, be savvier in our approach to business, and find a way to make it happen.
“We have built a digital advertising board and put it inside the ground this season to increase our revenue through sponsorships and advertising from local businesses.
“The reaction we’ve had in terms of the commercial side of things has been fantastic, but moving forward we have to be proactive and search for additional sources of revenue.
“I think we’ve gone as far as we can with the sponsorships and revenue that we currently have. With that said, we would love to have a big investor approach us and take us to the next level.
“I think any potential investors can see what the club is capable of with the minimal resources at our disposal, but with extra support and a financial injection, I predict big things will happen for this football club.”