Struggle on the cards for Chapple

13 April 2012

The most successful non-league manager in modern times, Geoff Chapple, faces the daunting prospect of a third successive relegation struggle.

Woking manager Chapple, who has won a record five FA Trophies and claimed seven League victims in the FA Cup, went down from the Conference with Kingstonian two seasons ago and kept Woking up by just one place last term. The Cards are tipped to struggle again this year.

"It is a very strange position for me to be in as a Woking manager," said Chapple, who is the bookmaker's second favourite behind Forest Green Rover's Nigel Spinks to be the first Conference manager sacked this season.

"It hurts me to be back at the club I love for this to be happening. I have never faced three relegation battles before, I have always been lucky in the past here and it is very sad."

Woking, who were one of the top non-league sides in the country for most of the 1990s, are paying for financial mismanagement over the past few years.

Now the budget has been drastically cut back before their first game of the season at home to fellowrelegation favourites Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

"When I came back last November, there were 26 players on contract - in other words all the reserve team as well," Chapple added. "That was ridiculous. A new chairman, Chris Ingram, has come in and he is sorting it out. He's set a realistic budget which I will be working to.

It's not massive but it's fair. It means we won't be bringing in many new players. Most of the squad who struggled last year are still with us, but it is up to us to say 'bugger the bookies' and prove everyone wrong.

"What would make a big difference is if I can get a leader. They are a great bunch of lads and are noisy on the training field but on match days you could hear a pin drop in and out of the dressing room. We need someone to shake them up a bit on the field. If we can get someone like that, I'm confident we can finish in a much-improved position and if we can get on another good cup run, that would be a good season for us."

Woking drew 1-1 against a Chelsea reserve side including Jody Morris last night. Sebastian Kneissl scored for Chelsea before Ben Abbey equalised for the home side.

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