Retained list

[nw6pie]

Luton are the ones we should take hope and faith from that we can and will rise again. They spent three seasons at this level finishing 5th, 7th and then 1st.

Yes it’s disappointing and frustrating that three times we’ve fallen at all levels of the playoffs the final, semi and now quarter stages but we are not that far off. 82 points from a 44 game season is really good. We were only two wins short of the magic 2 points a game which normally would be enough to win the title. It’s only due to the machine that Dave Challinor made Stockport that big spending Wrexham haven’t won the title and they’ve pushed them all way. Likewise Neal Ardley has done an excellent job at Solihull Moors as did 38 year old Pete Wilde the manager of Halifax (worth a look if IB goes?) . The competition this season has been fierce and whilst it’s tough due to only one automatic promotion space it’s been even tougher which such a strong group of seven teams. Grimsby and Cheaterfurlough have all led the pack.

Apprenticeships usually last four years. I’ve always seen it that our owners are on an apprenticeship with the club while we are in non-league learning their trade. They are now three years in. With each passing season they learn more and become more experienced and therefore better owners.

I would suspect that this season will be completely analysed and this is where I’m looking forward to us addressing our shortcomings over the next two months (as the season starts early) ready for an assault on the title next season.

Agree with this. Let’s see if the Reedtz can recognize why we’ve fallen short three years in a row and tweak accordingly - more pace, more height, more strength through the backbone of the team.

Worth noting, too, that Luton were actually in non-league for five seasons and kept on missing out in the playoffs before finally going up as champions in 2014.

If Wrexham do go up, next season looks like being a more even division and we’ll have no excuse not to be competing for first place.