Safety? Promotion Is The Aim Now For Fylde's Challinor!

By Steven Coney

AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor has finally admitted his side have their eyes on promotion - with safety all but secured!

The Coasters were promoted as National League North champions last term but it’s been far from a season of consolidation in the top-flight.

Fylde made it into the FA Cup second round, forcing a replay against League One high-flyers Wigan Athletic, and have enjoyed a strong first season in the National League.

The Coasters have won seven of their last ten League fixtures and Saturday’s victory at Gateshead moved them into seventh - the last play-off position.

Their recent great form has got the Fylde faithful dreaming of back-to-back promotions - and now the boss is buying into it too!

“At the start of the campaign, our realistic aim for this stage was to be safe and secure for next year,” Challinor told the club’s website.

“We have achieved that and we now have an opportunity to change those ambitions and look up. We have given ourselves a realistic chance of finishing in the play-offs. 

“We know it is a big ask and there still is a big challenge ahead but the league title is wide open. There is the opportunity for a club to put a run together and earn that title. Any one of a number of clubs could do it and we have proved that we are one of the clubs capable of doing that. 

“Realistically, we aren’t aiming for that but we do want to win as many games as possible to ensure we keep hold of our place in the play-offs.”


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