WE will be looking to move forward again next season.

Worcester City came pretty close to success this year and with a few additions we could move to that next level which is getting into the play-offs and maybe pushing for the title.

That will depend on the budget and at the moment we don't know what that is. I am meeting with the board today to get the budget and then I will be speaking to the players about their futures.

The idea is to bring in a few fresh faces to strengthen the squad and hopefully we will be challenging next year.

Justin Thompson will need to be replaced so a centre-half will be a priority.

I think the league was there for the taking this season.

We had a good opportunity and just fell down at a couple of key times during the year - particularly in February and early March.

We had a run of games in which we only won one, drew seven and lost three. If some of those draws had been wins we would have been comfortably in the play-offs and not finishing six points shy.

Losing striker Adam Webster at the start of the season was a massive blow but Craig Wilding came in and did a great job.

Justin was also ruled out early on and so was Mark Danks at a crucial time in the season although we had a half-decent start.

Seeing how well Webster, Wilding and Danks have played together in recent weeks shows what a threat they would have posed to opposition defences.

The players also feel that they missed an opportunity this year.

It's going to be tougher next season. There are some good teams coming down from the Conference so we will have to be stronger than we were this year.

Hopefully that will be reflected in the budget because we have got to try and compete.

With Droylsden, and hopefully Kettering, going up we will be without two of this season's bigger teams but Southport, Tamworth and Altrincham are all coming down and Burscough are promoted from the Unibond, along with possibly Telford via the play-offs.

It's not going to be any easier. It's up to the players to improve and give that little bit extra.

It's up to me to get more out of the players and to over-achieve, and there's no reason why we can't do that.

Farsley Celtic have over-achieved, without a doubt, and probably Workington to a certain extent as well. It is possible and that's down to me and the players finding that bit extra.

As for the play-offs, I would say it's going to be Kettering who will join Droylsden in the Conference.

I know they have had their problems but I think they will be too strong for Farsley in the play-offs.

Hinckley against Workington is tough to call but I have got a feeling for Hinckley and Kettering in the final.