Garstang FC boss has one issue to resolve for next season

With the North West Counties Football League season set to be curtailed, pending FA Council ratification, clubs can now turn their thoughts to the 2021/22 campaign.

The Riversiders are no exception, and while a start date for next season is up in the air right now, it hasn’t stopped them from sounding out the current squad’s thoughts.

The main issue comes in goal with Will Kitchen, one of the division’s top keepers, now available again after injury.

In his absence, Michael Donlon was brought in and performed well before the season was put on hold.

“That’s the biggest headache I’ve got,” Cookney said.

“Kitch is fit again and had been training at AFC Fylde but Michael came in and was tremendous.

“With Kitch, the aim is possibly to let him play four games for the reserves and get a full 90 minutes under his belt.

“The thing is, neither keeper is going to stick around. Both are that good they will have teams after them.”

Cookney aims to bring in three players over the summer, though the re-signing process has been aided by the last game before their break; victory at AFC Blackpool.

He said: “If we had come away from that last game and lost, it would have been hard but because we were so good, it’s what the lads are thinking about.

“I’ve got a lot of verbal commitments. They want to stay but a lot can happen between now and the start of the season.”

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