Shepton Mallet A.F.C. manager Aaron Seviour says this campaign is a rebuilding season despite the club's recent 8‑0 home win and last year's strong performance.

Seviour made his remarks during episode 13 of the Jewson Western League Podcast. He acknowledged that after two highly successful campaigns, the club finds itself in a challenging phase. (westernleague.co.uk)

He detailed the loss of "seven or eight players" to higher‑level leagues and explained that the club's focus has shifted to integrating younger recruits from lower divisions, citing Ben Snell as a positive addition.

Seviour added that - even with inconsistent results - opponents still regard Shepton Mallet as a "top six side" due to the club's recent history, meaning they carry the burden of expectation every game.

"You learn more from your losses than you will your wins," he said, emphasising that this period is an opportunity for growth rather than decline.

While the original goal was to "go one better" than last season, when the club just missed the playoffs, Seviour said the focus is now more realistic: "We're not going to get relegated" and he would be "quite happy with a top‑eight finish." He remains ambitious for cup competitions, especially the Les Phillips Cup, in which the club has reached two finals in three years.

This transparency offers supporters a clear view of the shift in strategy at the club, moving from immediate challenge to longer‑term sustainability.

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