GOOD, bad or just plain indifferent! Just how does City's season measure up?

While John Barton sits down to assess the campaign, City fans will be doing the same.

Some will be in agreement with the manager that it's been another year of steady progress, others perhaps critical of the inconsistencies that have cropped up, demanding more of their side.

One thing that is clearly evident is that at St George's Lane it's never plain sailing. No fear of mid-table obscurity for City fans.

Whether it's flirting with the idea of looking like championship contenders or resembling relegation candidates, City have the capacity to put the supporters through the wringer.

The facts of City life mean there are enough highs to keep supporters interested but sufficient lows to stretch the most patient and bring some choice words of criticism as Barton makes what he calls 'the longest walk in non-league football' towards the St George's Lane dressing rooms.

The moments to savour have included the 7-0 win against Bath with Carl Heeley's hat-trick, Mark Owen's treble on his return to the side against Weston, the run of superb form after Christmas which brought a 5-1 victory against Dover, a 5-0 win at Havant and fleeting hopes of a late title tilt.

There have been the last minute escapades at Chippenham and at home to Eastbourne plus the emergence of Liam McDonald as a genuine first team player, Leon Kelly's brand of rampaging forward play and the continued excellence of Danny McDonnell that earned him an England call up.

On the downside we can reflect on the dreadful run that began in September with a hat-trick of defeats, and that continued through October and November with first hurdle exits in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

More recently bad times have returned with an end of season slump which has seen them win just once in six league games.

Throw that lot into the mix and you get about fourth or fifth place, which would be City's best finish in 15 years. Progress indeed.

The big question for Barton, and supporters, is whether that can be turned into a sustained title challenge next season or whether that is about as good as it gets. Hopefully there is more to come next season but having raised the bar, Barton is going to need to jump ever higher.