By Martin Walker
Gary Farley has revealed he’s willing to give up his role as Aycliffe’s chairman to concentrate on his football duties at the club.
Farley, who is also Aycliffe’s assistant manager, says he is keen to step aside for a new chairman as part of a major recruitment campaign.
Aycliffe are currently looking to add more members to their management team as well as matchday volunteers to help bolster their off-field ranks.
They’re inviting anyone interested in getting involved with the club in any capacity to get in touch.
And in a surprise move, Farley says the club is even looking to appoint a new chairman.
After a hugely-successful debut campaign in the Northern League first division, finishing ninth to comfortably consolidate their top-flight status, Farley is aiming to kick things on again this summer.
“The work for the committee starts now, and the first thing we’re looking at is increasing our numbers on the management team,” said the current chairman.
“Phil Wilson has come in as president, we’re possibly looking at bringing in a new chairman, so we’re looking to add three or four to the committee to help the other lads, who’ve all done a fantastic job off the field, but you need numbers in this game, it’s tough to run a first division club.
“Players-wise, we always try to add to the squad ever since our Durham Alliance League days and we’re no different now, to what we have already, and that will hopefully take us forward.
“We always aim to improve, and we’ve achieved that in the five years Allan and I have been at the club. So if we’ve finished ninth in the first division this season, the aim is to go one better, so seventh or eighth, and a good run in the FA Cup or Vase would be fantastic.
“But as long as I’m at the club we’ll always look to take us forward and I’m sure we’ll have another great year.”
Farley is delighted with Aycliffe’s 2011-12 campaign, adding: “To consolidate when you’re coming into this first division is hard, other teams have proved it, had yo-yo seasons, gone back into the second division and have never recovered.
“So our sole aim was to consolidate and become a first division club, and I think we’ve achieved that quite admirably.”
■ Anyone keen on joining the Aycliffe backroom team can contact secretary Steve Cunliffe on 07872 985501, or email [email protected]
