Jewson/Hellenic We won't take undue risks to stay at this level - Thorns boss

RICHARD Joyce strongly backed his Thornbury Town basement battlers to rescue their non-League step 5 status once more, but pledged: “We'll never risk our club with reckless spending”

- Simon PARKINSON

Thornbury boss Richard Joyce

Thorns, well into their fifth-sea-summer 2021 rise from the Hellenic League's second tier, have fought hard to keep their heads above water at the higher level, not least last season when they finished up an all-time high 12th in the Premier Division, 126 years since their formation.

That was a marked improvement on their 2023-24 exertions when they survived relegation with a third-bottom finish.

Eighteen games into their latest campaign, Joyce's team find themselves heading to promotion-chasing Corsham Town tomorrow uncomfortably close to the drop zone once more.

When it comes to any potential for splashing the cash in desperate pursuit of safety, the Thorns leader is in no doubt where his priorities lie.

Joyce stressed: “Were we to ever get ourselves into a position to pay our players, it would make for an enormous decision, one of the biggest our club has made.

“You would have to question changing a philosophy that has served us so well for so long. Club cultures change when they feel they have to pay their players something.

“For all the progression I've enjoyed seeing at Thornbury, we are nonetheless structured in a way that should ensure we remain competitive should we fall backwards.

“As a club we've done so much to get to this level and stay put without taking undue risks.

“The fact we finished up 12th last season when we'd previously flirted with relegation is testament to that.

“In the three-and-a-half years since I came in we've had pitchside railings installed, a stand erected and a fabulous clubhouse extension which is generating significantly more money.

“Prior to that, there were elements of the club that were still of County League standard.”