Pitchero Non League

Michael Butcher

....would be unrealistic to expect the club to match the achievements of last season.

With former midfielder Mark Bartley - an old team-mate of Butcher's - at the helm Town finished an impressive seventh in the Premier Division and also won the Supplementary Cup.

In addition they enjoyed a strong run in the FA Vase, going all the way to the Fourth Round before losing a thrilling contest to Larkhall Athletic.

But with a large number of last season's squad expected to either join Bartley at Marlow or leave Scours Lane for pastures new, Butcher will have to build from the bottom this year.

Working alongside director of football Colin Millard, who has managed the club twice in the past, Butcher is planning to construct a young squad with the main ambition of staying in the Premier Division next season.

And having worked at the John Madejski Academy for four years, the UEFA B License coach has plenty of contacts to start a project that he expects to take two-three years.

"I'd love to say we are going to finish in the top half next year but what we are doing needs time," he told the Reading Chronicle.

"We have told the chairman that the main expectation is to stay in the league and the club are fine with that. Financially, the club does not want to get promoted now, but in two or three years we want to have a team that can compete nearer the top of the table.

"We have a two to three-year plan, in the second year we'll look at where we are, but anything could happen, we don't know right now."

Butcher has previously worked as manager at North Berks Football League side AFC Wallingford but his main success has come as coach of the JMA.

Last year the youngsters were crowned National Schools` champions and also won the Tactic League Cup at the Madejski Stadium.

Butcher hopes to use his contacts with the JMA to build a side but will also turn to Millard to add some experience to the ranks.

"Colin knows this level very well and has a lot of contacts in the game. There are going to be a lot of young players in the squad but Colin will help to talk to experienced players," he said.

"I've been at JMA for four years so know a lot of players who are there, who have left to play elsewhere or who haven't quite made it. We're probably looking at an average age of 19 to 20 and maybe a few younger players and then a couple of experienced players to strengthen the side and help out."

Butcher has already spoken to his former team-mate Bartley about which players might be available for next season and has invited some back for the start of pre-season training on Saturday.

The new manager has also appointed a coach to work alongside him and says he is not worried by having to work within the same financial restraints as his predecessor.

"It's not a problem, I know the club doesn't have much money right now but we are trying to build something for the future," he commented.

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