CHESTER boss Steve Burr won’t settle for another season of steering well clear of trouble.
Having benefited from a relegation reprieve late last summer, along with Dartford, Burr’s side finished mid-table.
With an FA Cup run that saw them take the scalp of League Two Southend United, it was a positive first full season for the former Stalybridge Celtic and Kidderminster Harriers boss.
Now he’s determined the fan-owned Blues build on that platform and push up the table.
“We improved last year and my goal is to improve again,” he told The NLP. “I want to achieve something here but if we can improve on last year then that is progression.
“We look better as a squad, I feel we’ve improved. This time last year we had been gearing ourselves for the Conference North before we got the reprieve.
“And we made the most of it. If you look at Dartford, they had a similar season where they got relegated. We managed to not have that happen to us. So it was really pleasing we had the season we did.
“But I don’t want to be at a club where we’re just looking to halfway. I want to push on to try and achieve something.”
Burr and No.2 Jon McCarthy have targeted more quality in a smaller squad this season.
Striker Ross Hannah has been brought in to get goals, Tom Shaw for his Conference nous in midfield and Ian Sharps for his experience in defence.
Experience
Along with Johnny Hunt, an FA Trophy winner with Wrexham who will be used as an attacking left-back, Southport‘s versatile midfielder Luke George and the exciting talent of Jordan Chappell, Burr feels he has added well.
Training three mornings a week, the club are making the most of their impressive facilities provided by main sponsors MBNA.
Known as the ‘Field of Dreams’, as well as grass and 3G pitches, the players have access to a gym and table tennis – and Burr says it all helps foster team spirit.
“Once the season starts we’re looking to feed the boys,” he added. “It’s important we eat together after training. You can already sense there’s a good team spirit about us. Team spirit will always be better when you’re winning games, but being together is important, too.
“The one thing I’ve noticed about young lads these days is they’re criticised quickly. That can have an effect on them. They will make mistakes –?it’s how you react to them.
“It’s going to be a tough season, as it always is. But we’ll give it everything we’ve got and try to upset some of the big boys.”
