Jewson/Hellenic Bitton boss Powell's feeling good about clubs's future as rebuild continues

Jay Powell believes Bitton stand on the brink of “something big” as he and they plot a route back to a non-League step 5 stage they know so well.

- Simon PARKINSON

A competitive and often dominant force in the Western League's top flight for nigh on two decades until their voluntary withdrawal from the entire league in October 2022 citing spiralling travel costs, Bitton have steadily been rebuilding in the second tier since their summer 2023 reinstatement.

Now operating under the sole leadership of Powell, inset right, who took charge alongside club stalwart Dan Langdon for the final weeks of the last campaign following the unexpected resignation of Will Justin, Bitton have begun the season promisingly with seven wins, two draws and only one defeat in Saturday's 2-0 reverse at Mendip Broadwalk.

Off the field, Bitton officials remain confident that the sale of club land to Woodstock Homes with a view to enabling the Bristol-based developer to build 40 houses on the Bath Road site will go ahead, so providing funds for vital facilities upgrades including the installation of a 3G pitch they feel is imperative to their chances of progression.

Powell, whose second-placed team are in Bristol derby action once more at home against mid-table Shirehampton tomorrow four days on from a hard-fought 2-1 night victory over visiting AEK-Boco in front of 165 spectators, said: “We seem to be well on course for agreeing with the developer the purchase of land which hopefully should lead to us installing a new 3G pitch next summer.

“We're not quite there yet but it's still led to a lot of excitement for everyone with Bitton at heart, myself included.

“The idea is that the whole club and community can use it: men, women, youth. We've had a seven-a-side artificial pitch in place for a few years now; but an 11-a-side one will make a lot of difference. And it will be compliant with Southern League standards.

“All being well we'll be ripping up our grass pitch at the end of the season and replacing it with a lush new artificial one”