I’d like to take the club forward but what I won’t do is put the club in jeopardy for putting us under pressure, says Greenways player-manager Robert Jeffery

GREENWAYS player-manager Robert Jeffery says the club will not put themselves in jeopardy by hiring another ground to win promotion.

The Gravesend based outfit have finished runners-up in the Andreas Carter Joma Kent County League Premier Division.

Jeffery, 31, a central defender, scored a hat-trick as Greenways thrashed Farnborough Old Boys Guild 5-0 at Farrow Field on Tuesday evening.

Punjab United were elected into the Premier Division despite being a new club and with financial clout they have been able to improve their facilities at their ground, which is yards away from Greenways’ base and they have won the title at the first attempt.

Jeffery said: “When you talk about it, you know you’re so close to reaching the top, you always look back and think what could we have done better?

“But I think when we look back on this in a few weeks’ time we’ll look back on it and say we’ve had a good season,” said Jeffery, who’s side are seven points adrift the champions with one game left to play each.

“We’ve lost Willie Miller earlier this year, which was very tough for all of us so I’m pleased that the boys carried on. They dug deep and it’s brought us very close as a unit so we’ll keep going and we’ll go again next season.

“But I think in summary the season’s been a positive one, just a shame that we lost a great man but we’ll keep going for him.”

Punjab United are expected to be playing Southern Counties East Football League First Division football next season, while Greenways are keen to follow them – but only when they are ready and have the finances to do so.

“It’s difficult. We’re at a crossroads in terms of progressing,” admitted Jeffery.

“To progress you have to have certain criteria, certain facilities and at the moment we don’t have that so it’s something that we’ll look to do. 

“It’s something that we’ve discussed in depth for a number of years and 100% I’d like to take the club forward but what I won’t do is put the club in jeopardy for putting us under pressure.

“From a financial point of view we’re not blessed with pots of money and this club has been around for 50 years, mainly due to Willie Miller and the one thing that I won’t do is I won’t put the club’s future at risk by taking unnecessary risks.

“Yes, we definitely want to go up but we need to assess that and make sure that it’s right for us and the club to do so.”

Greenways would have to hire another ground if they were to win promotion.

“There’s a couple of options, I think realistically short term, if we wanted to do it, it will have to be a groundshare,” said Jeffery.

“Longer term, we could look at something but we don’t own any land so I think realistically it will be a groundshare with someone, which comes with financial consequences, which is what is definitely something we want to do but it has to be right for the club.”