Following today’s game against Barnet, AFC Fylde Chairman David Haythornthwaite would like to give the following update to supporters ahead of the 2025/26 season,

As the late Queen Elizabeth said in 1992 following a particularly harrowing year for her family, and the monarchy in general, it’s been ‘annus horribilis’. I think the same can be said about the season ending today.

Ever since my involvement with the club going back to 2007, we’ve had our high and lows and thankfully, far more highs than lows. What makes football both great and frustrating is that there is no recipe or guarantee for success, and although money helps, it guarantees absolutely nothing at any level, just look at Manchester United and Chelsea.

I can guarantee that no one involved in those two clubs set out to fail, every one of them had the best intentions and believed they were doing the right thing. However, money spent unwisely, be it on players or managers will reap scant reward and the same applies to us here at AFC.

Ultimately, we, (in the main me) have either made bad decisions or allowed others to do so, resulting in the worst summer recruitment since I became involved. When it came down to it, the players on the park were simply not good enough for this standard of football and David Longwell alluded to this in his interview after the Tamworth game.

It’s easy to blame others, but ultimately it’s what they are paid to do, BUT, in the end I have to sign it off, be it the wages, the length of contract, the signing on fee, the agents fees, etc etc. In the final reckoning, I can only blame myself as the proverbial buck stops with me.

For this I apologise to all concerned. I let you down and I can assure you that no one feels as sick as I do about the situation we find ourselves in. We have to face adversity everyday of life in some shape or form, but it’s how we deal with it that defines us as individuals or organisations.

We’ve been laughed at and ridiculed for our 2022 ambition, but as most of you know we were just 90 minutes from fulfilling that dream. Many are saying I’ve lost the drive, and the will to keep on pumping the money in, but I want to assure you I haven’t. The desire burns as strong as ever, and as long as I am able to, I will continue to support. This is my commitment.

However, some fundamentals are going to change, because, as with everything in life, there is a right way to do things and a wrong way. I enjoy my football every bit as much as everyone else and I want to win as much as all of you, BUT not at any cost. Playing the right way is equally important and I passionately believe it is possible to play the right way and still win. This past season we were guilty of not doing either.

People will find all kind of excuses not to do the right things, not just in football but in business and in life but that’s all they are, excuses. I am hearing already that ‘you can’t play football in the NLN because the pitches are not good enough’, ‘we need to have a plan B sometimes’. I don’t accept that and never will. Anyone watching PSG over the last few weeks will agree, they are a cut above anything we have in the Premier League, and they do it playing fast attacking football which is a joy to behold. Do you think they would play any different at Buxton or Blyth? I don’t think so!

This is going to require a complete overhaul of both backroom staff and the playing squad and that work has already begun. We have started the search for a new Head Coach who shares our values and vision and everything will follow on from there. On this subject I want to thank David Longwell and Frankie McAvoy for doing their best to keep us up, and wish them the best for the future, both are true gentlemen and professionals in every way.

All that remains is for me to thank all of you for your amazing support. Please continue to keep the faith and be assured I will do everything I can to get us to the promised land.

David