Brackley Town boss Jon Brady has confirmed he will stand by the squad that took the club to within one game of the top level of non-League football.
The Saints were beaten 1-0 by Halifax Town in the Blue Square Bet North play-off final in front of a record crowd of 2,604 at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Halifax were the stronger side throughout, and secured victory through Lee Gregory’s 76th-minute goal, but to reach such a situation was a huge achievement for Brady and his squad, who were bidding for successive promotions.
And the manager confirmed he plans to keep the majority of the squad together for next season, with offers already being made to a large proportion of the group.
“The process for next season does start literally when you get back from holiday and start planning,” said Brady, who will take a one-week break before returning to the business of running a football club that, following Corby Town’s relegation, is now the second strongest in Northamptonshire behind the Cobblers.
“But we’ve already put things in place for next year so we do plan quite ahead.
“I think we’ll let the dust settle. We’ve got a good squad and I’d like to keep the majority of them.
“Being the next best team in Northamptonshire I don’t think the players would want to go too much further.”
The difference, Brady felt, between his team and the Halifax one that will be playing at Conference National level next season, boils down to strength in depth.
And that will be the key issues on which the manager focuses during his summer preparations.
“I told all of the players at the end of the season that I would offer them all something and go again with the same bunch of players,” confirmed Brady.
“But who knows in football? Sometimes people take your players and you’ve got no hold over that.
“I would like to add one or two because as you could see today Halifax had a lot more strength in depth in their squad.
“They had three or four sitting in the stands today and we don’t have that opportunity here.
“But I would like to add but we’ll see if my bosses allow me.”