NEXT season starts now. Already one bright talent (Goddard moving from Woking to Swindon) has been snapped up.

Omar Bogle could have been purchased from Solihull Moors before Grimsby got him.

The January transfer window was ill-used.

Yes, we were challenging Cheltenham but cracks were appearing.

We bought for tomorrow (Anthony Jeffrey and Ben Jefford). We should have bought for today.

Add that to two long-term problems and a midfield wiped out by injuries (Robert Sinclair, Marcus Kelly, Sam Wedgbury) and you have reasons for out playoff final defeat to Grimsby.

Firstly, too many free-kicks have been given away in key positions. Secondly, we cannot turn dominance into goals.

Both these factors were obvious on Sunday, May 15, and without our usual midfield there were unsolvable problems.

There will be no recrimination regarding mistakes on the day. The players have taken us to second place, nine points above Grimsby in the National League.

They need to be judged on a full season, not just one game. Well done gentlemen.

The game was full of interest and incident, and for a neutral it was outstanding, as was our second-half fightback.

It was clear from the press box TV’s that Mark Cooper spoke to the team at half-time.

We emerged with three at the back, Jon Parkin came on for Brett Williams, and more importantly a mind-set that could have taken us to victory.

There was one problem, however. Elliot Frear was asked to play a withdrawn role on the right side of the midfield!

He is at his best in the final third of the field, attacking down the left. Understandably, he did not shine.

Now Mark, it is over to you. You will, like all managers do, have inherited a contract situation not of your choosing, and we must all realise you do not have a clean sheet.

You do, however, have a club united behind you and that means lashings of good will.

In addition, you have a chairman who will both listen and back you.