TERRAS CAN TAKE STOCK FROM NEW LIFE AT THE TOP

Brian’s keen to build on year one

- JOHN LYONS

WEYMOUTH could hardly have had a longer away trip on the final day of the season than a visit to Hartlepool, but at least it gave rookie manager Brian Stock plenty of time to reflect on an unforgettable first season in the dugout – and look to the future.

Plucked from Bournemouth’s academy to replace Southend-bound Mark Molesley, who had guided the Terras to back-to-back promotions to reach Non-League’s top tier, the 39-year-old knew from the off that he was taking on an almighty challenge.

The part-timers would be mixing it with a host of full-time ex-Football League clubs desperate to reclaim their place among the top 92. The spectre of Covid also hung over the season, but not even Stock could have predicted how it would affect the Dorset club.

An impressive 2-1 win at high-flying Stockport at the end of October made for a solid seven points from seven games in a hectic opening month of the season and left them mid-table. However, a nasty shock was to follow.

“It was a really good team performance, but virtually everyone contracted the virus after that,” he said. “Only one player – Tom Whelan (now at Chesterfield) – didn’t get it and he drove to the game himself, so maybe it was to do with the air conditioning on the bus.

“You hear about some clubs coming into contact with Covid – maybe it’s a player or the manager – but I haven’t heard of many where the whole squad has had it.

“It affected everyone and we had members of staff in hospital. After two weeks some of our players still couldn’t train and it took us ages to get back up to speed. We suffered big-time in the five games after that. Hopefully that won’t happen again!”