Chairman Lee Carter today pledged to give AFC Telford United boss Rob Smith the funds to launch another promotion challenge next season.Carter was disappointed by Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Barrow that sealed a 4-0 defeat on aggregate in their play-off semi-final.
But he backs Smith and assistant Larry Chambers to add to the squad over the summer and go one step further next time around.
“We’re going to go and do it next year,” said Carter, who also confirmed he would be staying on as chairman for at least one more season.
“We’ll use this disappointment to spur us on. We’ve seen everything this league has to offer and we’re not too far short.
“We’re going to sit down with Rob and Larry in the next week or so and work as hard as we can and give them as much money as we can to make sure we’re up there again next year.
“We’ve identified the need for two or three bits of quality and we’ll provide the funds for that.
“We’ve had a good year this year and we’re still alive and fighting for next season. There’s one or two clubs who’ve gambled and won’t be able to compete next year because they didn’t make it this year.
“We can. It will be the fourth year in a row that we’ve announced a profit, I’m confident of that.”
Carter has made no secret of his desire to step down from his position once Telford have returned to the Blue Square Premier - the level at which the old club operated before going bust in 2004.
But the club’s play-off heartbreak has delayed that mission for at least one more year - and the 30-year-old has pledged to keep at it.
“I’ve always set my stall out that if I know someone else is working 23 hours a day I’ll work 24 hours for this football club just to make sure we get it right,” he added.
“We want the fans to be proud of this club, which I think they are, and there’s another 12 months of hard work to come.
“I don’t want to feel like we’ve let everyone down, and I don’t think we have this season. We’ll continue to work hard to make sure we don’t do that.
“It’s been a good season but there is a sense of disappointment right now, though I’m sure that will fade.”
By Chris Hudson
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