CHAIRMAN Mike Burke says Bromsgrove Sporting boss Brendan Kelly will be given all the support he needs to challenge for promotion from Step Four of the non-League pyramid next season.
Sporting clinched the Midland League Premier Division crown on Saturday after they defeated Loughborough University 3-1 and challengers Highgate United crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Worcester City.
Burke confirmed Kelly and assistant boss Andrew Mason would be staying in charge of Sporting next season as they prepare to play at the level Bromsgrove Rovers were at before they folded.
And Burke has pledged to give the management team all the resources available to them to challenge for a third successive promotion, insisting Sporting ‘will not just be making up the numbers’.
After the sudden departure of then-manager Paul Smith with 14 games remaining, Burke was left pleased with how the players and new management team did not let the turmoil distract them from title glory.
“Bren and Andy came in at a time when things could have quickly gone downhill,” he said.
“Before they took over they wanted reassurances that it would not be a short-term deal and they have repaid our faith with a league and cup double.
“There were silly rumours flying around after Saturday that somebody new is going to be coming in next year but I can safely say Bren and Andy will be staying put.
“We are going to sit down with them to discuss budgets, among other things, for next season because we want to challenge for another promotion.
“When I came in I said I wanted two promotions by 2020.
“We have done that and we want to go for another one.
“We are not going to be there just to make up the numbers.
“Bren has already got some transfer targets in mind and we want to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.”
Burke believes there is ‘no limit’ to how far Sporting can go up the non-League pyrmaid, stressing the fans ‘deserve’ to be watching higher levels of football.
Sporting are currently the 49th best supported non-League team in the country – according to www.nonleaguematters.co.uk – with an average gate of 759 and Burke hopes to see that closer to the 1,000 mark next season.
“You know you are at a big club by the size of its fan base,” he said.
“And there is the potential in Bromsgrove to attract even more people to games and what helps that is not just winning games in the league, but going on cup runs.
“Being able to play in the FA Trophy next year will hopefully add to that.
“The fans get behind the team all the time and we want to keep evolving this club for them.”
