Scunthorpe United boss eyes promotion to National League

Scunthorpe United manager Jimmy Dean has his eyes set on securing promotion, as his side edge closer to the Vanarama National League North play-offs.

Speaking to reporter Jamie Johnson, after his side won the Lincolnshire FA County Senior Cup, he spoke about a need to deal with pressure in big games.

Dean made ten changes from the side that beat Blyth Spartans in league action, opting to rotate his team with the final game of the regular season and the play-off not far away.

Scunthorpe came from 2-0 down at half-time to beat Spalding United 3-2 in the final at Lincoln City’s LNER Stadium. It was the 22nd time they had claimed the trophy.

What has Jimmy Dean said?

Speaking after his side won the competition, he said: “It’s about a culture of winning, however we do it, wherever we do, dealing with pressure. I thought we got really nervy first-half, turning down passes to play forward, going sidewards when it was the wrong decision… if you’re doing that here in front of 700 or 800, how are you going to handle a game as big as a play-off final.”

“I think [the County Cup final] will certainly add to dealing with those pressures and trying to win those big games,” he continued.

In prime position:

Tamworth have run away with the league, securing the title well in advance of the final day on Saturday, April 20.

Scunthorpe United sit second, so await their play-off opponents in the semi-final. They can only drop to third, behind Brackley Town, if they come out on the wrong end of a massive 22-goal swing on the final day, so second is sewn up.

With the National League play-offs as they are, second-placed Scunthorpe will play the winner of Eliminator A, which is fifth vs sixth. Whoever finishes third will then face the winner of Eliminator B, which pits fourth against seventh, in the other semi-final.

Whoever wins the two semi-finals will battle for a place in the National League on Saturday, May 4. Scunthorpe are in prime position, finishing second to secure themselves a home semi-final at the end of April.

National League Inbound?

The Iron are one of a number of fallen giants in the English game, succumbing to poor ownership and falling down the football pyramid. A promotion back into the National League would crown a season that saw the good feeling to Glanford Park with local businesswoman Michelle Harness buying the club in their hour of need.

Scunthorpe were in the SkyBet Championship just 13 years ago, and were in League One only five years ago. When they were relegated from the EFL in 2022, it ended their historic 72-year spell in the football league.

Their fall into the sixth tier has been quick, suffering back-to-back relegations ahead of this season, but they could be on their way back up the English football pyramid.