Ian Rowe is ready to swot up for Sporting Khalsa’s next challenge

Rowe is eagerly looking forward to taking charge in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division after Khalsa’s promotion from the Midland League was confirmed this week.

And now Rowe, who leaves no stone unturned in a bid to get the upper hand over his rivals, is ready for some summer homework.

“It’s an exciting challenge and we are really looking forward to it,” said Rowe. “I don’t really know much about that level so I have got to do a little bit of swotting up between now and August to learn a few things about the teams we are going to be coming up against. But it’s all good – we have got 38 cup finals to look forward to next season.

“Since I have been here we have played a few sides from that level and above and we have done OK. But teams change season in, season out so it’s a case of doing a little bit of homework.”

Khalsa’s promotion is richly deserved having been the best side in the Midland League during the last two Covid-hit campaigns.

In fact, Khalsa have finished outside the top three (fifth) just once in the last six seasons after Rowe led them to West Midlands League glory.

But Rowe, who has been in charge at Khalsa for eight years, admits it feels a little bit strange not to secure promotion in the usual manner.

“From a personal point of view I’m over the moon, I’m really happy that we are going up,” said Rowe. “It’s been a tough six years at step five. Apart from one season when we finished fifth, we have been in the top three every season. We have been consistent.

“We have had to contend with Alvechurch, Hereford and Bromsgrove, some big clubs, when it was just one side gaining promotion.

“I think we would have been promoted two seasons ago, but obviously we will never know because the season was stopped.

“To not get across the line and do it in the conventional way seems a little bit strange, but the fact is that over the last two years we have consistently been the best side in the league. Full stop.

“It is a little bit different, I’m not going to lie. But there hasn’t been much good stuff going on in the world for the past 15 months, so to have something go our way, I will take that with open arms.”