AFC Fylde say 2022 EFL dream is still alive

Chief executive Jonty Castle says AFC Fylde can bounce back from relegation with back-to-back promotions Picture: AFC FYLDE

Fylde agree on new assistant manager to stand in for Bentley

Fylde have accepted relegation from the National League, which looks to be their certain fate now that promotion play-offs are under way in National League North and South.

It has been a longstanding ambition of owner David Haythornthwaite to lead his Mill Farm club into the EFL two years from now – the hugely ambitious 15-year plan was announced in 2007 following promotion from the West Lancashire League.

And after five more promotions, Fylde came within one game of achieving their goal three years early, losing to Salford City in last season’s National League play-off final.

A year on, however, and the Coasters have taken their first backward step, finishing second-bottom of non-league’s top flight under the points-per-game system. Fylde and Ebbsfleet United are set to be replaced by the winners of the play-off competitions which reach their semi-final stage on Saturday.

But that doesn’t mean Fylde’s 2022 dream is dead, as chief executive Jonty Castle told BBC Radio Lancashire last week.

The Coasters chief said: “That’s the aspiration of the manager (Jim Bentley) and myself too. Jim was in the Football League at the start of this season (with Morecambe) and had no intention at all of ever being in National League North.

“We still have the ability to get there by 2022. We have to use this next season to move forward, and if we can get the right playing squad together, get out of the league and use that momentum wisely, you never know.

“David’s aim was to be in the Football League by 2022 and with a fair wind we may still get there.

“We have an exceptionally strong group (of players) we managed to maintain. We sat down and have been through what that group looks like.

“I’m sure there are still a couple of changes that will take place but overall the core group of the squad we were happy with for the National League.

“And with a couple of good additions we believed we would have been at the top end of the National League, so we believe we’ll put a strong squad together and have a real go at it.

“This isn’t a division we want to be in and ultimately we want to be going in the other direction.

“All plans are in place to start putting together the right backroom staff and playing staff to move the club forward.”