LYDNEY TOWN F C NEWS

Pegler Resigns - 25th July

Kevin Pegler has carried out his threat and stepped down as manager of Lyndey Town.

Pegler said last month he was considering his position after the club were thrown out of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division because their ground was not up to scratch.

And after a summer of contemplation he has opted to quit and hand over the reins to assistant Neil Hook, who will take charge on a temporary basis. “People don't realise how much that stuff takes out of you, it's exhausting,” said Pegler. “I tried to carry on but I was so frustrated at getting relegated. I've nothing left in me.”

The problems stem from not completing promised improvements to the Swan Road facilities to meet the required standard for Step 5 football. Proposed developments such as floodlights, hard-standing and a covered seating area have not been carried out and Pegler believes the Recreation Trust, which must sanction any developments on site, have been hindering the club.

Lydney ended their first season of Premier football with 19 wins from 42 games and 67 points on the board, but their relegation gave a reprieve for Harrow Hill.

Pegler was bracing himself for the departure of key players and his fears were realised when Ross Scott and Danny Clarke followed the Hellenic League's player of the year Joe Macklin out the club. Macklin has joined Hungerford Town, Clarke has signed for Kidlington and Scott may move to Blakeney while goalkeeper Richard Thomas has been linked with Shortwood.

“Danny is a superb player with great ability for making and scoring goals,” added Pegler. “He's gutted about what happened last season and so is Joe. The core of the team has gone. It probably started with the loss of Peter Macklin at the end of last season. We missed his goals and his quality – he was a target man and brilliant in the air.”

The good news for new man Hook is, players such as Damian Edwards, Ricky Elliott, Jonny Kear, Steve Warren and Matt Timmins have committed to the cause, and Simon Holland looks set to rejoin the club from Lydbrook Athletic.
Macklin Reluctantly Leaves Lydney - 16th June

Lydney Town defender Joe Macklin has admitted that the club's demotion is likely to lead to his departure. The FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division's player of the year is set to leave Kevin Pegler's side after they were relegated to Division One West because of a failure to improve facilities at Swan Road. And the 27-year-old, a senior risk analyst at Stroud and Swindon Building Society, is expected to remain in the Premier after offers from Shortwood United and Hungerford Town.

"I would say the likelihood of me staying is low at the minute and I've had a couple of calls," Macklin said. "I will train with Shortwood and Hungerford and make a decision. I know Hungerford is a bit of a trek but my cousin Jamie Gosling plays there and I know some of the lads. I'm probably moving away from Lydney anyway because I'm based in Stroud with work. I don't think I would be able to play against Lydney so if they were still in the Premier I probably wouldn't leave, and even if they won One West next season there's no guarantee they will be able to go back up so that would be a disheartening situation."

The former Tuffley player, who was born and bred in Lydney, took over the Town captaincy in their Northern Senior days and was a key figure in three successive promotions. He stood out again in 2007/08, frequently operating in a sweeper role, but Macklin admitted he was shocked to win the award. "I was a bit surprised," he said. "They select the player on man-of- the-match awards and that's picked by the opposition manager for each game. I don't think there's any additional criteria to it and maybe because I'm playing at the back and had to do more I've stood out a bit.