LEDBURY manager Ian Merrick feels that commitment is a non-negotiable for his squad this season, as he targets promotion to step six.
Having stepped away from his position as manager ahead of last season, Merrick made a mid-season return following a tough run for the side.
Promotion was already out of the question at that point, however being the boss from the start this time round, Merrick has his sights firmly set on the target.
"Going up has to be the aim," he said. "If you have got a competitive team then it has to be the goal.
"A town the size of Ledbury with an ever-expanding population, you only have to look across the hill at Malvern and what they are doing.
"Obviously we don’t have a wealthy benefactor that can help us at this moment in time but I don’t think step six football is out of the realms of possibility for a town the size of Ledbury."
With just one team going up, Ledbury have previously finished second twice under Merrick, losing it on the last day on one of those occasions.
"We have hit the post twice, came second twice behind Hartpury and Inkberrow. Look at those teams now," added Merrick.
"We have been seconds away from winning it before. We have hit the post twice, eventually if we keep building and stay patient then surely it has to be our time.
"There are no guarantees in football, we have to make sure we do the hard work and get the right players in but if you can get the right group of players pulling in the same direction then ultimately we will have a good chance."
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Hopeful to bring in five new players, Merrick is confident his team will be stronger than last season.
"I have spoken to an awful lot of players and am still speaking to more – it is just a case of seeing who turns up at preseason. People’s word during preseason doesn’t always mean everything," he explained.
"Once people have signed and you have had a few competitive games then you sort of know. But especially where we are on the football ladder, if you have got a budget and you’re paying players then it is a bit different but obviously guys aren’t getting paid at Ledbury so it is a bit more fluid.
"I am hopeful that there is maybe five who are going to come in, a couple of those really could be figureheads for the team. We will be hopefully stronger than last season. The one non-negotiable this year has to be commitment.
"It was tough when I came in last year because we were out of all the cups, out of the league so maybe my expectations were a bit higher than what the reality of the situation was.
"But if we can get the feeling right at the start and that feel-factor around the club again, then I am hopeful that the squad is going to be very strong again."
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