Promotion will be the aim next season, says Poppies' chairman-elect Mahoney

Club director Mahoney will take up the chairmanship at Latimer Park at the end of the current Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division season after Ritchie Jeune announced his intention to stand down on Friday.

Jeune will remain as the club’s sole owner and will stay on the board and the football committee but Mahoney will become chairman for at least the next two seasons.

The current campaign is now petering out with the Poppies missing out on a play-off place, despite the expectation at the start of the season being for a big push for promotion.

Marcus Law received the full backing of Jeune in his statement before the weekend and the Poppies boss is set to again be given the task of leading a promotion charge next season.

Mahoney, meanwhile, released his own long statement late last night in which he reiterated the club’s desire to gain promotion while also continuing their search for a home back in Kettering.

In a statement directed at the club’s fans, Mahoney said: “I want people to see the positives that are present and those that we’re striving to achieve.

“Latimer Park may not be everyone’s ideal home and it certainly presents some challenges but it is our home and we need to be proud of it.

“Many of us dream of living in larger houses or better areas but it doesn’t stop us making the most of what we have today.

“Our current residence won’t stop us striving to get promoted or searching to find a new home that we can all be proud of but that’s for another day and another season.

“We know we have challenges on and indeed off the pitch and we’re working to resolve them, it would be wrong of me to dive into topics that aren’t yet under my remit or where plans haven’t been finalised but I want everyone to know that we do appreciate the fans’ frustrations.

“We have to find a way of putting fire back in the player’s stomachs, fear into the opposition and turning jeers into cheers on the terraces.

“I can’t promise that I am going to get everything right or please everyone all the time but I can promise that it won’t be through lack of trying.

“What I can promise though is that the board, the management team and the players are already looking to next season with the aim of achieving both promotion and a decent run in the cup competitions.

“We will be taking steps from now until the end of the season to make sure that we’re in great shape to achieve these goals.

“I know we can’t make everyone happy all of the time but I truly want more fans to go home happy more often than they have recently.

“I want fans to feel that the admission fee is worthwhile and to be proud of who they support and how the team are performing.

“I won’t complain if we win ugly but occasionally I want to win playing the right way. I know that if we start winning then confidence will grow, crowds will grow and teams won’t want to come here.

“Change will always come as a surprise to some, some will embrace it, others will challenge it and some frankly won’t care.

“All I can ask is that you (the fans) trust the board and know that we want the same thing as you.”

The Poppies return to action tomorrow (Tuesday) night when they take on Brackley Town in the semi-finals of the NFA Hillier Senior Cup at Latimer Park.