Motormen planning to make the most of late lifeline

Redbridge are looking forward to hitting top gear again in Ryman North next season after being handed a surprise reprieve by the Football Association.

The Motormen were saved on Wednesday by Clevedon's relegation from the Evo-Stik League Southern over floodlighting issues, filling the gap created at Step 4 as the club with the best points per game record at that level last season.

Barkingside were also reprieved from dropping out of Ryman North in May and the second reshuffle of the 2015-16 Non-League pyramid by the FA's League Committee saw Ware moved sideways into the Evo-Stik League Southern's Central Division to allow the Blues to stay up.

After their late escape from making a return to the Essex Senior League for the first time since 1997 when they were known as Ford United, joint managers Ricky Eaton and Dave Ross insisted they would be doing everything in their power at the Oakside Stadium next term to avoid relying on the troubles of others elsewhere.

Easton told the Ilford Recorder: “It’s difficult to assess and set targets at the minute but we know we don’t want to be involved in a dog fight again. If that means consolidation, so be it.

“We had new training facilities put in in January that allow us to train all year round and we will have a strength and conditioning coach working with us throughout the season. In the two years I’ve been with the club, I’ve seen the youth section grow massively. All of this should help the club."

He added: “The first team avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth and we need to make sure that never happens again.”

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook