Ellwood are hoping that the summer appointment of Ian Ford and Kevin Barry as first team coaches will give the club some stability after a string of managers and couple of topsy-turvy seasons that saw them fight relegation then come back to narrowly miss out on the league title last season.
The Cheltenham-based pair would be first to admit, however, that their pre-season didn't go as well as they would have liked after losing a number of experienced players to Hellenic League side Harrow Hill and a series of mediocre showings in the pre-season friendlies.
But a steady if unspectacular start to the league campaign, and a victory over league newcomers Thornbury Town in the first round of the League Cup on Saturday, has shown that things are already heading in the right direction.
Ford is keen to see Ellwood progress but is realistic about what is going to be required.
"It is going to be tough to repeat last season's exploits straight off – especially after losing some decent players – but Kevin and I are here for the duration. I see our future as a long term one and the committee understand what we are trying to do and are fully behind us. With our contacts it wouldn't be difficult to bring a side here from outside the area but that is not what we want to do. The side needs to be built around local talent, and I'm sure there's plenty about, but that doesn't mean we won't bring players in if we feel we need to."
As a former manager at Ross Town and Cheltenham Saracens, Ford certainly has the experience to take the club on and his assistant Kevin Barry has plenty too. A player at Cinderford Town and Forest Green, Barry is a now a UEFA 'B' badge holder and has some managerial knowhow himself. Serving in the RAF he coached NATO sides in both Norway and Germany before being stationed back in Gloucestershire.
The pair have already brought in experienced centre half Marc Green from Bishop's Cleeve to join Clark Barrow and Rich Beech but local boys Rich Haggar and Mike Nelson have also been given a chance after joining from North Glos League neighbours Milkwall this summer.
The skillful Nelson made an immediate impact with two goals in the season's opener against Puckechurch and Haggar also got himself on the scoresheet Saturday in the victory over Thornbury.
Ford was also pleased that players like Chris Stock and Rich Biddington have committed themselves to Ellwood despite efforts from other clubs to prise them away.
"There is an excellent team spirit here but it was important that we didn't lose the experience and quality of the likes of Stock, Biddington, Barrow and Beech, I am also delighted to have players like Gary Wildin, Rich Brown, Lee May and goalkeeper Mark Harris here. There will no doubt be adjustments to the side but I am happy enough with our starting point and we are already developing into a decent squad," he said.
"We may need to strengthen the midfield but we have plenty of quality defenders and a decent goalkeeper – I don't see us struggling up front either with the likes of Wildin and Nelson already among the goals."