Newark Town manager Luke Parsons says club ahead of schedule after finishing seventh in United Counties League Premier Division North

Newark Town are way ahead of schedule after an excellent debut campaign at Step 5.

The Blues finished seventh in United Counties League Premier Division North after beating local rivals Newark & Sherwood 4-0 at home on Easter Monday.

They were only moved into the division at the last minute, following a late withdrawal, but took to the level impressively, entertaining fans with stirring comebacks and high-scoring victories.

“We always said we had a two-year plan,” stated manager Luke Parsons.

“The first year was to win Step 6 and build a squad that was capable of challenging the teams at Step 5 and the second year was to try and push on.

“We’ve done the two-year plan in one year really and next season is all about building on that.

“They always say the second season can be the hardest if you’ve had success because you’ve got to replicate it.”

Parsons will let the dust settle before holding conversations with his squad for next season.

He anticipates interest from other clubs but hopes to keep everyone together after challenging for the play-offs.

“It’s been very intense, with a lot of pressure as well,” said Parsons.

“I just want to give them a week or two off to enjoy themselves and spend some time with the family and then approach that subject and see what happens.

“You’re going to have people interested in my players.

“We’re one of the lowest budgets in the league and teams know that, so they will come knocking and have a conversation with the players.

“It’s up to them. I can’t complain on loyalty, they’ve all given me everything, so they’re free to do what they like but they know how I work, they know how the club works and it’s something quite unique that you buy into.

“We’ll see but ultimately we’re going to have to bring a few lads in as well. The grass isn’t always greener.

“I’ve seen there’s a couple of jobs available and they’ve got big budgets but big budgets aren’t always all that, it’s the foundations, the growth and the fanbase.

“Newark Town’s probably got the third or fourth highest average attendance in the league and it’s the fanbase that creates the club to start with, and your teams you’ve got underneath, from under-5s upwards.

“If a team has a big budget but no foundations, it’s never going to go anywhere in the future anyway, whereas Newark Town’s got the foundations, it just needs that little bit of investment which we should get this year.

“We were charging Step 6 prices, where we’d sold season tickets and then got told we were going into Step 5, so an extra couple of quid on the gate per man, it’s a good income, especially when you’re averaging 250.

“It’s in the best place I can remember.

“When I first took over, the first year was during Covid when we won the league and the season got curtailed and I stepped away for Nathan Arnold, we were averaging 35 people at Step 7.

“The first year I came back we got that up to 150, second year 228 and this year over 250, so it’s continued to grow and you build on your success.

“When you’re doing well you have to continue that success but if people are coming through the gate, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t continue to have success on the investment side.”