Cheltenham Town manager Michael Flynn admitted the club could see a summer clear-out, should his side fail to deliver at the ‘business end’ of the season.
The Robins sit 13th in the League Two table, nine points off the play-offs, with a game in hand, ahead of their Saturday afternoon clash against Colchester United.
On the busy schedule ahead
“It’s the business end of the season, we need to win football matches. You’re playing against teams in good runs of form, we’ve got Wimbledon on Tuesday, and Swindon in a week tomorrow.
“There’s no easy games, everyone’s fighting for something now, and we’re one of them. We want to finish the season well, whether or not we make the play-offs we still want to get as many points on the board as possible, and that is the challenge.
“If they don’t, and we peter out, that gives me some decisions to make in the summer, whether they’re in contract or not, do you try and move them on? Because if it does peter out, the season would’ve been frustrating, lots of promise, lots of improvement, to then fall away again, it’s not something I want to do.”
Flynn, who captained Bradford City during his playing days, labelled his side’s showing on Tuesday night ‘a bad performance’, against a very good Bradford team’, who recorded a 10th consecutive home win.
On 3-0 loss away at Bradford City
“We were poor, not to our usual standards, and you’ve got to give Bradford credit they’re on an unbelievable run of form, especially at home, and they turned up and we didn’t. The goals were really poor, if it wasn’t for Joe Day it would’ve been six, I thought he was absolutely superb.
“If they don’t learn from these types of experiences they never will, I’d say there were probably two that came out with any real credit, the rest of them were below standard and I’m sure they’ll improve.”
On the challenge ahead against an in-form Colchester
“I think they’ve been brilliant, 10 unbeaten, it’s easy to say it’s a tough game, but we’re a tough game for anybody at home. We’ve got to make sure we turn up tomorrow because if we don’t we’ll end up losing because Colchester are a good team.
“When we beat them in the Vertu Trophy I thought they were really good that night, they caused us problems, I know we went on to win the game but you could see that was almost the start of them gelling and playing the way Danny (Cowley) and Nicky Cowley want them to play.”
Cheltenham face stiff competition in the form of the Essex-based side, who are 10 games unbeaten and now six points off the play-offs, having conceded just four goals during that period.
Despite this, the Robins have already defeated the U’s twice already this season and are unbeaten in their last six games against them (a run which stretches back to 2019), though Flynn insists his opponents have ‘vastly improved’ recently, admitting his previous record against them means nothing to him.
“They’ve improved a lot, they’ve got (Samson) Tovide back, (Lyle) Taylor is a handful, I could go all the way through the team, they’ve got good players and a strong squad.
“Every game is different, even if it’s the same opponent, we could play Colchester 10 days in a row out there on that training pitch, and I guarantee you there’d be at least seven different score-lines.”
“We need to be full of confidence, stick together, and give the crowd something to go home happy about.”
On Cheltenham’s home form
The Robins may feel more confident tomorrow as they play at Whaddon Road, losing just one of their last 16 home fixtures, though Flynn played down the effect this has on him.
“There’s not a different feeling for me, whether the players feel it or not that’s down to them as individuals, though I guarantee they wouldn’t admit it in front of a crowd.
“I think the crowd get right behind us, it’s a good atmosphere, I don’t know what it is but it is probably easier to win games at home.
On equality in football and International Women’s Day
The fixture falls on International Women’s Day, with the club dedicating the game to Her Game Too, a movement for equality and diversity in football.
Flynn spoke about his wife being his “biggest supporter”, and how she enjoys attending his games.
“My wife comes to every game, she’s my biggest supporter. For me, football is for everyone, man or woman, whatever ethnic origin, we’re a very welcoming club and that’s something that I’m proud of, it’s a very inclusive football club and that goes a long way.”
This International Women’s Day, it’s dedicated fixture time!! ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/vLuvm6W0TY
— Her Game Too Cheltenham Town FC (@HerGameToo_CTFC) March 3, 2025
