The new owners of Kettering Town FC have Conference football in their sights as a five-year goal after starting work this summer to transform what they describe as a ‘sleeping giant’.
Speaking on All Things Business – The Podcast, Nadim Akhtar (known as George), who bought the club earlier this year, and Fabia Forde, Director of Football, said they were excited to be taking the Poppies into a new era.
George Akhtar is a qualified football coach and runs the Watford-based Xtra Time Kidz Club. He has worked in various roles in non-League football including at Harrow Borough and Chalfont St Peter and with the Watford under-16s squad.
Fabian Forde is a former professional footballer who signed for Watford after playing for the club’s academy and spent time at non-League sides including Crawley Town, Grays Athletic and Hendon. He also made two appearances for Barbados in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2002.
Being interviewed by podcast host and All Things Business Managing Director Ben Thomas, the pair, who met at school, spoke about the fabulous potential of Kettering Town, and the hard work of the volunteers on the board and within the club, and the supporters and community behind it.
Fabian Forde said:
“We have inherited an unbelievable board and can see that there are a lot of things that are easily fixable. Whatever happens, the club is safe because it has the fan base, the legacy and history, the volunteers and supporters to keep it going, and we just felt straightaway that this was a sleeping giant that just needs a bit of direction.”
George and Fabian have spent the summer getting to grips with the players, manager and coaching staff, and those helping to run the club, in preparation for the new season, and are confident this campaign will be a first step in the right direction.
George said:
“This club should be Conference, minimum, and we have a five-year goal. It’s going take a lot of money and sacrifices, but why not? Imagine if we could one day say that we were the first owners to get this club into the Football League.”
Fabian added:
“Money doesn’t guarantee anything, but the playing budget does make all the difference. At the same time, there are lots of clubs that are just throwing money at it, and we are going to run this club in a way that is sustainable. It has a rich history, and we’re not coming in here to ruin that.”
Despite their future goals, the new owners are cautious about expecting too much from the first season. Automatic promotion is a dream, a play-offs finish would be fantastic, but they will be resisting the temptation to interfere with what’s happening on the fi eld and treading on the toes of manager Richard Lavery.
George stating:
“If we get pre-season right and get off to a good start then we could be at least flirting with the play-off s this season. I’m a coach and I want to develop players but to make it work we must get the business side right. We’re owners who know football, but all we can do is tell Lavs that we are here to support him, he’s the manager and it will be left up to him.”
Sponsorship and commercial opportunities are always available at Latimer Park and the owners had a message for local businesses.
Fabian said:
“Come in and follow us on this journey. There are going to be ups and downs, but it is going to be exciting.”
George added:
“The doors of Kettering Town have maybe been closed to people a little bit before now, but we have wonderful facilities, a boardroom, classrooms and hospitality and it’s a chance to showcase what we are all about. Get in touch and come and join us, it’s going to be fun.”
Visit the website www.ketteringtownfc.com to find out more about the club and its facilities.
