CONGRATULATIONS to Ady Pennock on being appointed and welcome to Forest Green. This club has a proud history and I am sure you will contribute to an exciting future.

This column appears in this newspaper and online and is written from the view-point of a fan. Sometimes it is wide of the mark but always it is written honestly with a true love of the club. I am sure there will be times when we disagree but that is part of the joy of football.

In many ways your job is a marvellous one – so many things are already in place at The New Lawn, but sadly progress on the field has not kept pace with progress off it. That has frustrated everyone and we are all looking to you and your team taking the football side forward.

It will not be easy and patience will be needed, certainly from us supporters. I know there will be enough goodwill for us to become and remain what every team needs - that is a noisy twelfth man.

You have a large squad which is both an advantage and disadvantage. You can cover easily for injuries and suspensions but will you be able to keep all the players happy? Managing a group of able players all wanting to be involved in match day action will not be easy.

In my view we have too many. At the end of last season new players were needed and in Danny Wright and Marcus Kelly two of the type needed were acquired. Danny has the strength and determination our forwards needed and Marcus has brought so much to midfield.

Then there was a rash of signings. Dave Hockaday was like a kid in a candy store. Andy Mangan, Anthony Barry and Matthew Barnes-Homer arrived. These are proven players who would add something to any team, but were they needed? Can we afford their wages, and if rumours of long contracts are true your hands will be tied. To adjust the squad as you feel necessary will be difficult because so many have long contracts.

These extra signings have given the squad a top heavy emphasis. With the emerging talents of Reece Styche, Matty Taylor and Steve Brogan, plus proven players like James Norwood and Kieran Forbes backed by a sound back four I felt the play off potential was already in place. Whichever way forward you choose, establishing a settled side or rotating players game by game will be fraught with difficulties. Best of luck!

There are two other long term problems. We have too many injuries being the first. I know about a dozen pre-season friendlies were played, but am not sure how much strength and conditioning was undertaken. The injury problem is compounded by the fact that fans were kept in the dark about who, what and when? Very little information was forthcoming and this did not help in understanding surprising team selections. While on the subject of secrecy, please can we have our filmed highlights back? I think we have been short-changed here for too long.

The second problem is player discipline. Although much better in the last two games we have accrued too many cards and therefore too many suspensions. I am realising as I write that I am in danger of trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs but I am also aware that my frustration at the disappointments of the last year are deep within me. We all know results should be better.

You of course know that more than all of us and I repeat good wishes and welcome. This season not too much will be expected – a tilt at the FA trophy perhaps and a push towards the play offs. Next season will be the big one.

Chairman Dale has shown considerable patience and I am sure will do so again. So will we as fans! There are a few formation fanatics amongst us who think anything else apart from 4-4-2 is heresy. I am not among them, looking just for energy and flexibility.

Some important chapters have been written in the history of this much loved club but none so important as the story of the next five years. You will be at the heart of whatever happens during that time. So no pressure then.

On a personal note I live close to the club training ground and if ever you want a quiet pub lunch in the many excellent establishments between Cirencester and Nailsworth the club has my number. You may learn something about the Cotswolds while I would learn much about football.