Bury St Edmunds begin life under their new head coach, Jon Curry, at home to Henley Hawks this afternoon (3pm), although their overall aim remains the same – to try and finish the season in the highest ever position in the Club’s history.
Ollie Smith left his post as head coach at the start of this month, due to a combination of family commitments (his daughter was born just six weeks ago) and also overseas business interests.
Smith, in his first and only season at the helm, following former long-term coach Gavin Hogg’s departure for Old Albanians last summer, had set his sights high at the start of the campaign, with hopes of securing promotion from National League Two South.
A run of three straight defeats in December killed off any hopes of Bury troubling the top two, but the Wolfpack still have plenty to play for, as Curry explained in the build up to this weekend’s clash.
“It’s no secret that the Club wants to finish in its highest position ever, and that target hasn’t changed,” insisted Curry, who oversaw his first training session in his new post at The Haberden on Tuesday evening.
“I think that is still possible, although of course it’s always difficult when there is a change of coach in mid-season.
“We also have some tough games to come, but if we all pull together then I am sure we can finish in the top six,” added Curry.
Bury currently sit in sixth spot, following a 46-26 home win over Canterbury in their last outing, a fortnight ago. That proved to be Smith’s last match at the helm, because last weekend’s trip to Clifton was postponed because of the wintry conditions.
The West Suffolk’s club’s highest ever position was in their first season at this fourth tier level, in 2015-16, when they finished sixth.
They look in a good position to at least match that achievement of two seasons ago – they were 11th last term – although to eclipse that landmark and make the top five would be a big ask, especially as they are currently 10 points behind fifth-placed Redruth.
After today’s match, Bury have just six matches remaining, four of these away from home.
Their last home match is against leaders Cinderford (April 21), and a week earlier they are on the road at second-placed Chinnor.
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