Runcorn Linnets manager Billy Paynter joined Sam Phillips after yesterday's game in Wales against Flint Town United. Here's what he had to say:

Sam: Billy, thanks for joining us after a brilliant first win for you as permanent manager. How did you feel the game went?

Billy:Firstly, I'd like to thank Flint for the hospitality and a very good, competitive game. It was a very good workout for our players with some good patterns of play to control possession. This allowed us to be brave on the ball and play expansively at times. I thought we dealt with the counters really well, again outcomes I wanted to see.

Sam: A few lads got some more minutes in the legs, including Eden and Shorty. How important are those minutes?

Billy: Really pleased to get minutes in the legs for James Short and Eden - it just builds us that step closer to the start of the season.With the return of James Short, we had more of a balance in the back four, which allowed us to play our game alittle braver at times.

Sam: We are still a few weeks away from the start of the season. One player that fans are excited about is Godwin Abadaki but we are yet to see him play in a Linnets shirt, can you give us an update?

Billy: With Godwin, we are monitoring his fitness at this moment. We are all aware of how much the fans are looking forward to see him, we just need to make sure that we introduce him at the right time.

Sam: Finally Billy, you can confirm some squad news for the fans?

Billy: Yes I can. Sadly, Louis Hayse and Dapo Olarewaju have left Runcorn Linnets due to personal reasons away from football. But we can't thank both enough.

Louis has made more than 100 appearances for the club and at such a young age, I think that really shows his abilities.

Dapo has been electric and a real fans favourite since joining while showing some excellent skills and that blistering speed that we all know he has.

However, I'd like to put on record that the door is always open for them if they have a change of heart.

Sam: Thanks, Billy and we will speak to you again next week.

Runcorn Linnets will open the 2023-24 campaign in The Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division on Saturday, August 12th with a home game against Chasetown.

This will be our third league meeting with the Staffordshire outfit, who return to the West Division this season.

We last met in 2018-19, winning both league matches 2-1, the home game being our first after promotion from the North West Counties League.

We will travel to City of Liverpool on Tuesday, August 15th before the league programme is briefly interrupted on the second Saturday of the campaign by home duty in the Emirates FA Cup. We entertain Stalybridge Celtic in the preliminary round.

August is rounded off by two midweek home league dates with the visitors being Newcastle Town on Tuesday, August 22nd and then, on Bank Holiday Monday (August 28th), WItton Albion

These games are either side of a Saturday trip to Kidsgrove Athletic on the 26th.

The return derby at Witton will follow on New Year's Day. The two other Bank Holiday fixtures - on Boxing Day and Easter Monday - are against Prescot Cables with the Christmas match being at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Runcorn Linnets manager Billy Paynter spoke with club media manager Sam Phillips the morning after our pre-season opener against Litherland REMYCA at Aintree last night. Here's what he had to say:

Sam: Billy, thanks for joining us and welcome back to a new season. What were your thoughts on last night's game?

Billy: Firstly, thanks to REMYCA for the fixture, it was a very good workout for our lads for our first pre-season game and allowed us to get Important players some much-needed match minutes in their legs. To have come away with no niggles is a huge bonus. The game in general gave us some good passages of play while also allowing us as a management team to see what bits we need to improve on.

Sam: Second half saw us make a lot of changes and bring on a good amount of trialists, How did that go in your opinion?

Billy: Always good to look at trialists to bolster the squad ahead of the new season and it was great to be able to give minutes to some of the young players in the 2nd half to assess the process of the next steps in their careers.

Sam: Once again, we had a great number of travelling fans, what is that like for the lads to have such a following for pre season?

Billy: All I can say is thank you once again to everyone who made the trip. It's always great to see so many familiar faces while also one or two new ones. The fans know how special they are to the team and how much of a big part they had in the success we had last season.

Sam: Thanks Billy and we will speak to you again next week

(The match saw Linnets 2-0 ahead early in the second half thanks to goals from Ryan Brooke and Jamie Rainford with REMYCA then responding with three unanswered goals).

We have been handed a home draw first up in both the 2023-24 Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy.

In the Cup, we will host Stalybridge Celtic in the preliminary round on Saturday,  August 19th, having been excused from the extra preliminary round.

We will entertain Witton Albion in the first qualifying round of the Trophy on Saturday, September 9th with the winners travelling to City of Liverpool or 1874 Northwich on Saturday, September 23rd.

Our Under 18s have.been drawn away to South Liverpool in the preliminary round of the FA Youth Cup, the tie being scheduled for week commencing Monday, September 4th.

Our involvement in three national FA competitions has been confirmed.

In the Emirates FA Cup, we join in the preliminary round on Saturday,  August 19th - having been excused from the extra preliminary round.

We will enter the Isuzu FA Trophy at the start, playing in the first qualifying round on Saturday, September 9th.

Our place in the FA Youth Cup is also confirmed and we will be involvedin the preliminary round (week commencing Monday, September 4th).

Draws will take place on Friday, July 7th.