BATH CITY boss Gary Owers claims there will be ten teams thinking they can win the National League South when it kicks off in under a fortnight – themselves included.
The division is as open as it has ever been and, with the absence of a big spender, there are a large number of eyes on the title prize.
Many are talking up the Romans’ chances after similar black and white striped success against the odds last season for untipped Maidenhead United.
Manager Owers says Alan Devonshire’s team have given every outsider in the league hope, a lot like Leicester City did after their historic Premier League triumph.
“I think because one of the unfancied teams did the business last year, quite a few more will look at it more closely this time,” said the Bath manager, who watched his team beat Reading’s U23 side 3-1 on Tuesday before Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Town.
“It’s there for someone to win this year, no doubt about it. There’s no cash-rich club as such, no big, big club coming down like maybe they have in the National League North.
“There will be eight, nine or even ten teams thinking they can have a good old go at it. We’d like to think we fall into that category.
“Aim high, I always say. There’s plenty who shout from the rooftops and don’t deliver but I think actions speak louder than words.
Progressive
“My background is mainly in the pro game and I wouldn’t have come to Bath City if it was a club that didn’t have that kind of progressive attitude. If it did, I would have just played golf instead!”
He has an increased playing budget to work with, and signs are Owers has spent it wisely. Left-back Anthony Straker, 28, from Aldershot, has signed as has Bristol Rovers striker Jamie Lucas, 21.
Forward Nat Jarvis, 25, who scored twice against Cheltenham, is progressing while Marvin Morgan, 34, has extended his stay. The extra cash comes from the supporters’ takeover at Twerton Park with the community buy-out getting the manager’s seal of approval.
“We’re trying to put a squad together to challenge at the right end of the table,” he said. “Since I have been here we’ve been relegation fodder and the view is that we need that to change now. We all want to get this club back up and running.
“It’s early days with the takeover but there are some good signs. We haven’t become a rich club all of a sudden, we do things the right way still, but we want to take the club in the right direction and to do that you need backing.”
Bath open up at Bognor Regis on August 5.
