Stephen Matthias questions TNS' Commercial Manager Matthew Brooke

1. HOW WELL DO YOU THINK TNS WILL DO THIS COMING SEASON?

Well I am hoping that we can improve on last season, but as been as we finished runners-up after a good finish to the season, that means we will have to finish as champions to better last years efforts - this means beating Barry Town - we are capable of beating anyone on our day though! I would like us to have a better run in the Welsh Cup next season - q/f last year, went out away at Barry, so with a bit of luck we can avoid them till the final or something this time around. Also I would really like to see us play one of the big boys in the FAW Premier Cup this time as we missed out on that last season on goal difference to Newtown.

2. HAVE TNS SIGNED ANY NEW PLAYERS YET?

Not as yet, but I am hearing off a couple of players that are almost signed, but I don't think I can say anything at the moment..! Watch this space!

3. IN YOUR OPINION WHICH TNS PLAYERS SHOULD WE LOOK OUT FOR IN THE NEW SEASON AND ANY OTHER UP AND COMING YOUNG PLAYERS FROM ALL THE OTHER LOfW CLUBS?

I think all our strikers had a poor season in 2001/02, the goals seem to come from all over the team - which is a good thing - but it is always a bonus to have a 20 goal a season striker - I think both John Toner & Justin Parry are top quality and will both feel like they have something to prove this year! Other clubs - I think Bangor have some quality players, i was impressed with Owain Jones & Kenny Burgess last season. Barry have snapped up Nathan Cotterill from Cwmbran I see also, he looked a cut above the rest. Even though Lloyd-Williams scored over 50 last season, I still think Graham Evans is the best all-round striker in the league though.

4. WHERE DO YOU SEE TNS IN 5 YEARS TIME ? STILL OPERATING AT A HIGH LEVEL IN THE LEAGUE AND PUSHING FOR EUROPE? OR STRUGGLING TO BE PART OF THE LEAGUE WITH ALL THESE UEFA CHANGES COMING?


In the top 3 most years now I would hope - I think we are in an enviable position compared to the majority of the other clubs in the LoW - With TNS Ltd providing continual support season-after-season whatever the results, it will be so much easier for us to comply with these changes. I think the changes, although controversial, were inevitable really and will definitely improve the quality, and hopefully awareness of the LoW in the long-run.

5. DO YOU FEEL THE CLUB GETS ENOUGH SUPPORT AND EXPOSURE FROM ITS LOCAL COMMUNITY OR THE NATIONAL MEDIA?


Yes most definitely - again, because we have a marketing dept here at TNS we can control this media outflow with relative ease compared to other clubs in the league. We are constantly creating new angles for the press to cover TNS FC in some way, whether it is through the actual FC, or through the corporate side of the TNS chain. Good press or bad press, is press also, so anything controversial is usually a good starting point really - even though it may be on a negative subject? - does that make sense?!?!?!

6. IN YOUR TIME AT TNS WHAT DO YOU FEEL TO BE THE MOST MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CLUB?

Most definitely winning the LoW in 1999-2000 and therefore playing in prelims of the ECL - Our utopia is to be playing in the later rounds of the ECL - in fact, any LoW team to achieve getting into the 3rd round, or even league stages of the competition, would be a phenomenal achievement, and would finally bring the league the respect it deserves - TNS would obviously be my choice to carry the Welsh flag into these stages!


Thanks to Stephen Matthias for arranging the interview and asking the questions, and to Matthew Brooke for kindly taking part.
If you can organise an interview with a player/manager/member of staff at any LofW club, please email me at lofwwebmaster@yahoo.co.uk All contributions GREATLY appreciated.

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