Liam McDonald aims to pick up Kettering Town

Liam McDonald says it’s not too late to lead Kettering Town on a title charge.

The former Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge chief has taken over at the Southern Premier Central club from Simon Hollyhead, who resigned last week after just four months in the job.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists have suffered a mixed start to the new campaign, but McDonald, who led Rushall to promotion in 2023, believes there is still time to recover and launch a promotion bid.

“Kettering is a massive football club,” the 40-year-old told BBC Radio Northampton. “It’s a club that shouldn’t be at this level.

BELIEF: Liam McDonald

Hard work

“The goals that were set for Kettering as a team at the start of this season – yes, things haven’t been great of late and we’ve lost our way a little bit – but those goals are still there.

“Are they still achievable? Yes, they are. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, but they have a 12th man in 1,000 plus Poppies fans that are going to be there, they’re so passionate about the club and the team and they are game changers, and were last season.”

McDonald, a former Kettering player, began his coaching career at Redditch before moving on to manage Hednesford, Solihull Moors, Rushall and Stourbridge, who he left in the summer.

Now he has set his sights on lifting Kettering back to where he feels they should be.

“We are looking at making sure we are fighting at the top end,” he added. “Ultimately, it’s the biggest club in the division and with that comes a lot of responsibility.”