I know it’s not mathematically certain we’re safe, but realistically we are – we were probably safe once we’d beaten Eastbourne Borough on Easter Saturday.  To be on 47 points with the possibility of at least hitting the 50-point mark come the end of the season is a huge achievement and, in my humble opinion, on a par with winning the Southern Premier League.  
Great credit has to go to the Chairman, the Board, Mark, Gary, Jason and the whole of the back-room team (and all the families connected!).  It’s an all-consuming job looking after the football club and I take my hat off to all those involved.
Relegation after just one season would have been gut wrenching and, judging by the reaction to our defeat against Concord, it’s a feeling shared by many.  Much as I enjoy watching football lower down the pyramid I don’t want CTFC to be anywhere other than this level now we’ve had a taste of it.   It clearly hasn’t been plain sailing, and the departure of Dave Pratt added to the re-organisation of the coaching staff mid-season must have had an impact and could have derailed us completely, but credit to everyone concerned who helped steady the ship.
The National South has been a steep learning curve for everyone associated with the club, but a hugely enjoyable one from a spectator’s perspective.  Our average attendance for the season to date is 600, the eighth highest in the division.  I realise that figure is inflated by the Bath City game but with the prospect of Torquay United and Hereford (if they don’t go ‘north’) joining us next season we’ll get some even bigger gates than the ones we’ve had this season so there’s a lot to look forward to.  The trick will be consolidating and progressing in what can sometimes be the “difficult second season” syndrome, and in a division that could well be even stronger.
So what next?  I go back to what the Chairman stated at the open forum last summer, “We’re not stopping here”, or words to that effect.  I took that to mean we aim to progress year on year.  Now that’s easier said than done of course, and small steps are all we can realistically hope for, but a higher league position, going further in the Trophy, a good run the FA Cup are all achievable for a club of our size if the resources are there.   And there’s the rub.  I haven’t a clue what our budget is, or what it takes to keep us afloat, but the financial commitment must be considerable.  And our success over the past couple of years won’t have gone unnoticed of course.   Other clubs with greater financial clout could well be coveting our key individuals who have shown they can more than handle this level, and that’s not necessarily just the players.   There’s bound to be some turnover in personnel, that’s inevitable and necessary, but it’s vital we keep the core group together, from the management down.   It’ll be interesting to see how things shape up in the coming weeks/months.  Hopefully we’ll be able to recruit a dynamic Commercial Manager (advertised in the local press today) who will be able to generate the levels of income required to take us forward.  In the mean time I hope a considerable number of supporters will take the opportunity to buy season tickets (the Early Bird details are on the club’s website) as a show of support to Neil, the Board and Team Management.  After the fantastic efforts of this season it’s the least they deserve.  COYB.