David Artell says the aim has to be to improve season on season. The Alex finished 12th on their return to League One and Artell has described that as a ‘satisfactory return’, but our efforts are tinged with disappointment after dropped points cost us a potential run for the play-offs.
Artell is now busily planning for next season and he says that the club is heading in the right direction on and off the pitch in League One.
He told the club’s official website: “We were working under some restraints that I think everyone was aware of but I think we have been heading in the right direction for the last two and half years.
“It has taken some time to implement those ideas and create that environment but we managed to build a team to get us out of League Two and half way up League One. That is progress.
“It was a heavy burden to inherit a team that were 18th/19th in League Two. There was a danger of us going out of the league and we spoke about oblivion because that is what it would have been.
He added: “It wasn’t great and everyone has worked hard to get us where we are now but it doesn’t stop there. I know the expectations will increase and I am very ambitious. We want to be as competitive as we can be but also have to be realistic because we are up against some big clubs with big budgets in this league.”