Law's keen to strengthen but won't be breaking the Poppies' budget

Marcus Law insists Kettering Town will do all they can to strengthen their squad but insists there isn't money to burn at Latimer Park.
Kettering Town boss Marcus Law is looking for new faces to freshen up his squad. Picture by Peter ShortKettering Town boss Marcus Law is looking for new faces to freshen up his squad. Picture by Peter Short
Kettering Town boss Marcus Law is looking for new faces to freshen up his squad. Picture by Peter Short

The Poppies boss was only able to name four substitutes for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Banbury United after Ben Milnes was ruled out during the day of the game due to illness.

James Brighton and Durrell Berry are currently on the sidelines with injuries while Ben Baker is currently making his way back from a knock suffered while on loan at Barwell.

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It has all added up to leave Kettering’s squad stretched as they head into a busy few weeks before Christmas.

And Law insists there is work going on behind the scenes to bring fresh faces in but he was also keen to quash the myth that the Poppies have plenty of money to spend as they bid to stay in the hunt at the top end of the Evo-Stik South League Premier.

The Poppies boss said: “We have two contracted players who are injured, obviously Durrell’s injury is long-term and then one of our key players in Ben Milnes fell ill on Tuesday afternoon so it left us a bit short.

“We are making enquiries and we want to try to strengthen the squad but we do have a budget to stick to.

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“I was speaking to a fan at the Slough game and they were saying that we had a budget good enough for the National League North because of our fanbase.

“But it’s simply not the case. We are at a club that has been stung in the past by people creating drama by overspending and the current structure means that won’t be allowed to happen again.

“We have lost one or two players with injuries and it’s a case of trying to find replacements that are good enough but who are affordable as well.

“We are fighting at the top end of the table but let’s be straight, I would say that in that top six we would have one of the smaller budgets.

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“I think sometimes it’s forgotten where we are coming from. The club isn’t the powerhouse it once was.

“We have to be more careful with how we spend what is available but it won’t stop us from trying to improve the squad.”

The Poppies are back on the road once again this weekend as they make the trip to take on Frome Town in what will be their ninth away game in the last 10 in all competitions.

Tuesday’s point kept Kettering in fourth place in the table and Law is now looking for one more big effort on the road before a run of three successive home matches follow on, starting with St Ives Town at Latimer Park next Tuesday night.

“I think people have to take that on board,” Law added.

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“We have played one home game in November and eight of our last nine matches in all competitions have been away.

“That’s a tough run, no matter who you are, and we have come through it in reasonable shape.

“There has been a lot of travelling to do and it can take it out of you sometimes.

“But we will make the next journey on Saturday and we will be going there to try to get another win on the board to set us up for a nice run of home matches.”

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