WARRINGTON Town boss Paul Carden has committed to the club by signing a contract extension and is now aiming to keep much of his squad together for another tilt at promotion next season.
With six of the existing squad already agreeing new deals and a new signing – Carden appears to be well on his way.
The Yellows were cruelly denied promotion to National League North at the weekend, beaten 3-2 after extra-time by Kingís Lynn Town in the super play-off.
In any other year, winning the Northern Premier League play-offs would have been enough to go up, but due to a re-structuring of the football pyramid, an extra game was needed and that proved a hurdle too far.
Cardenís men have finished in third in the table in each of the past two seasons, and last summer he had to virtually re-build his whole side due to a number of player departures, largely to teams in leagues above.
He said: ìThere will be a few vultures circling, as I would expect, because thereís lad there who have had unbelievable seasons and are destined to go higher, so itíll be a case of when they move and when they decide to move.
ìThe thing is we knew it before the start of the season so thereís no point moaning about it.
ìAny other year gone by and any other year going forward, youíre promoted.
ìItís just the way it seems to be, weíve had to overcome another hurdle but weíre back staying in our division next season unfortunately.
ìI said to the lads we donít need to rip it up and start again. Looking at the side there I think Tony Gray was the only one to play in the play-offs last season, which tells you how well and strong the lads have done.
ìWe will try our best to keep as many of them to take us forward, and we will be trying to keep it together.î
Goalkeeper Tony McMillan (above), team of the year defender David Raven (top), winger Jack Dunn (below) and striker Josh Amis (bottom) were the first to agree to remain and were quickly joined by skipper Mark Roberts and leading scorer Tony Gray.
Their first new signing for next season was the capture of Gainsborough midfielder Alex Byrne.
Byrne, 26, was previously with Shaw Lane and played against the Yellows twice last season.
Picture shows Keep Macmillan, David Raven and skipper Mark Roberts who have all committed for next season in action against Kings Lynne at a packed Cantilever Park.