IN many ways, it has been action off the pitch that will provide the lasting memories of Worcester City's season.

The 2007/08 campaign will go down in history as the season City finally took significant steps towards a new stadium and completed the sale of St George's Lane.

Both have been long, complicated processes that have brought an end to years of speculation on the terraces.

Both have also been met by inevitable opposition, none more vociferous than the supporters' trust meeting at New Road where the management of the club at board level was called into question.

Money remains worryingly tight, even if the signing of a £250,000, four-year sponsorship deal with Careys New Homes has been agreed.

However, although there is still a long way to go before any move to Nunnery Way becomes a reality, no-one can deny the club has been closer to achieving their ultimate goal.

When City fans look back over the past nine months, the unveiling of a deal with St Modwen Properties and the subsequent, albeit protracted, sale of the Lane will no doubt be the chief highlights.

On the field, it was largely a campaign to forget, culminating in how it started back in August, with a defeat.

In between, there was little for fans to cheer about. The team fell at the first hurdle in both of the major cup competitions, either side of a humiliating 5-0 reverse at Hucknall in October, a result that ultimately cost Andy Preece his job.

Preece exercised his right to chase the cash-strapped club for compensation - a process that is still ongoing.

Results did not get much better in the six games under the temporary guidance of ex-boss John Barton and Phil Stant.

However, it has not all been doom and gloom on the pitch and, by that, I am referring to the appointment of Richard Dryden.

A shock choice when he took over in December, Dryden led the team to five victories in his first six games and to the brink of a play-off place.

He instilled a sense of belief in the players and his positive attitude on the touchline, along with assistant manager Carl Heeley, was a breath of fresh air.

The honeymoon period soon ended, however, and a combination of injuries and the release of key players, such as Adam Webster and Emeka Nwadike, to trim the wage bill saw results drop off.

Once the play-offs were out of reach, the season petered out somewhat but Dryden has the chance to build a team of his own to ensure some happier memories next year.