HAVERHILL Rovers will fight back next year as a more settled and organised club, whatever division they end up in.
That is the vow of manager Peter Betts and top scorer Martin Westcott after the Reds were relegated from the Ridgeons Premier on Tuesday night after a last-gasp equaliser by Wivenhoe Town.
But Haverhill may still get a reprieve, with Lowestoft Tow
n and Tiptree United potentially on the move to different leagues.
“We will go with what we get,” said Betts. “The biggest thing it to find out as quick as we can what is going on.
“We are going to start pre-season early and I need to spend next month improving the squad and getting sorted and settled.
“But until we know what league we are in, we don’t know what type of player we are looking to attract.”
Even though the drop has been on the cards at Hamlet Croft for months, Wivenhoe’s 93rd- minute equaliser on Tuesday night was the ultimate kick in the teeth to a Rovers side ravaged by injury – more than 12 players were unavailable to play on Tuesday.
“It felt like someone stabbed me in the gut,” said Betts, talking on Wednesday about the Essex side’s leveller. “We were desperate to take it into Saturday because I was convinced if we had won against Wivenhoe, we would have beaten King’s Lynn and given ourselves a chance.”
The long injury list hasn’t been kind to Betts since he took over the manager’s role in November but Rovers are finally a more settled club, unrecognisable to the one that saw them have five managers (three caretaker and two full-time) in little over half a year.
“I feel like the ship is stable, whereas it was sinking in September,” said Betts.“I’d like to thank the people who have supported us so well and we hope they will come back next year.”
Attracting more supporters and sponsorship is something else Betts hopes to achieve when the 2009/2010 season kicks off on August 8, as Haverhill look to increase their finances so they can compete with even those with the smallest budgets in the league.
But with a full, fit squad and the continuing development of young players such as Sam Holmes and Harry Halls, there won’t be too much work for Betts to do in bringing players in, should he hold on to those he has already got.
“I think most of the team will stick around next season,” said top scorer Westcott. “The attitude is great within the club and the team spirit is really good.”
The 31-year-old striker added: “I wouldn’t dream of leaving because football-wise and spirit-wise it’s one of the best places I’ve ever played at.”
Westcott also apologised for failing to take one of several chances presented to him against Wivenhoe on Tuesday, but Betts refused to blame his striker for Rovers’ relegation.
“Westy was distraught. He phoned me up this morning (Wednesday) having not slept all night and is absolutely gutted,” said Betts. “Some people may think we don’t care but that shows everyone does.”
n Rovers still have two matches left, both at home, against King’s Lynn Reserves tonight (kick off 7.45pm) and Leiston on Saturday (3pm).
