Ilford manager Allan Fenn has pledged his future to the club and insisted their difficult end to the 2016/17 campaign will be used as motivation next season.

The Foxes endured a terrible last two weeks in April after being thrown out of the Essex Senior League Challenge Cup final, before losing their last two games to finish sixth.

But after taking some time to think about his future, Ilford’s manager is remaining at the Cricklefield Club and is excited about the 2017/18 campaign.

Fenn said: “I have had conversations with my existing players about staying on and I’ve spoken with other players about coming over for pre-season.

“I have pledged my future to the club because I love Ilford dearly and I want to be here for the foreseeable future as long as I am doing a decent job.

“We are going to come back for pre-season on June 17, so a week or two earlier than we normally would because we want to hit the ground running.

“Hopefully this time next year instead of feeling hurt and upset like we do now, we will be celebrating promotion.”

Ilford finished the campaign with 75 points – an improvement on the 71 they obtained during the 2015/16 season – but they came sixth, which was one spot down on last year.

The Foxes boss felt his team should have won more than 22 times and knows they must improve on that total if they are to claim promotion in 2018.

After finishing the campaign with a 1-0 loss at Takeley last weekend, Fenn is already looking ahead to next season.

He added: “My main focus is on winning the league and promotion. That will be the objective and target for us.

“Anything else is a bonus and I believe we have learnt from our mistakes during the current campaign.

“We have dropped points at bad times and despite everything that has happened, overall we should have won more games.”

Although Fenn has high hopes of winning the division next season, he knows the league is going to be very competitive.

Great Wakering Rovers are set to join following relegation from the Ryman North while Eastern Counties Premier Division outfit Saffron Walden Town may also move into the division.

With London Bari merging with Hackney Wick, the 2017/18 campaign could be even more competitive than usual.

“I think the league is going to be even tougher next season because you will have Saffron Walden coming into it and Great Wakering,” said Fenn.

“Hackney Wick merging with London Bari will make them stronger plus Clapton, Southend Manor and FC Romania will be strong, but we are focused and ready.”

George Sessions
Ilford Recorder