Since joining the club at the end of June, it has been a busy few months both on and off the pitch. This is a good moment to reflect on what we are building together.
First, I would like to thank Chairman Paul Leary, CEO James Leary, Vice Chairman Dave McMillan along with the rest of the board for the warm welcome and for the trust they have placed in me to help drive our football department forward. Their clear vision and consistent backing underpin everything we do.
I also want to thank our manager, Bobby, and his staff. Working together with them makes it much easier to ensure that the players we bring in can hit the ground running and contribute straight away. Their insight and input on every target have been vital, and they deserve great credit for the way they have prepared these players and integrated them so quickly into the first team. That makes our recruitment far more effective.
Our activity in the transfer market has been about quality and sustainability. We are focused on signing players who improve the squad immediately and also represent the right long-term value for the club. By staying disciplined and moving only for the right targets, we can build a side that not only competes but in time can excel at National League North level, particularly given the budgets we work with and the full-time teams we are up against.
That work is a collective effort, and I am grateful to club secretary Richard Cross, whose help with the administrative side of every signing has been invaluable, and to our Social & Digital Media lead Mark Wilcock and our Matchday Media Team, who are always on hand to bring everything together.
The new players have settled in well, and much of the credit belongs to the group already here. Our existing players have made the new arrivals feel welcome, and that team spirit is visible on the pitch.
A strong squad is about more than the eleven who start on a Saturday. We want real depth and healthy competition for places, because that is what raises standards in training and gives us options when the games come thick and fast. The attitude and work rate shown by the whole group so far gives me real confidence.
Looking further ahead, we already have a club that is sustainable and well run, and our aim is to build on that with a clear plan for the years to come rather than a focus only on the short term. That includes strengthening the pathway for young players, so that talented local lads see Marine as a place where they can develop and have a genuine chance of reaching the first team.
There is a long way to go this season, and our focus remains on improving week by week. We have high expectations of ourselves, and we will keep working to make sure this squad has everything it needs to compete for as long as possible. We will keep you updated as the season goes on.
Finally, to our supporters: your support is what drives this club forward. You are the heartbeat of Marine, and seeing you get behind the new signings from day one has been a massive help in settling them in. We are all fully committed to rewarding that loyalty with a club and a team you can be proud of. Please keep backing the lads home and away.
Jimmy Holmes
Director of Football