Magnay: Bitter Memories Should Drive Gateshead On
Gateshead manager Carl Magnay has spent time reminding his players about the devastation caused by their enforced play-off exile a year ago.
Now the club are eligible for promotion into the EFL, he doesn’t want his squad to endure another summer of agony.
Last April, the bombshell news dropped that they couldn’t compete for promotion with the club unable to secure the required ten-year lease to play at the International Stadium.
Now a flat Easter is threatening their participation for a different reason.
The Heed remain in the National League top seven but defeats to York City and Hartlepool last weekend mean their cushion is down to two points.
Manager Magnay, a legend at the club as a player, is desperate for them not to suffer further pain.
“Or mantra at Gateshead is ‘find a way’ - there's always obstacles in our way, which we saw a year ago," he said.
“The players have had a lot to deal with which isn’t documented. We always try to deal with adversity and now we’ve got some important matches coming up.”
Gateshead travel to Boston United on Saturday for their penultimate match before a final day visit from Southend United - the side sitting in eighth.
But the 36-year-old needs to see improvement after a four days to forget.
He said: “The disappointing thing for me is that Hartlepool wanted it more. That was surprising as I have spoken about our togetherness.
“But collectively as a group we were miles away. There was a lack of fight.
“We’ve not got to re-set and hope the penny drops. It’s still in our hands, and it’s not about bravery.
“We’re clear in terms of what it requires and we need to do ourselves justice.”
Where next?
