It’s been a tougher season than we expected, but I believe it’s a true reflection of our character and desire that we’ve stuck together through the challenges and continued to battle during the difficult periods. Management – and, to a greater extent, football – is easy when you're winning (stating the obvious, I know!), so for the players, coaches, and supporters who have remained united throughout the season, it really shows how impressive they all are.

Despite the difficulties, we’ve seen some fantastic progress, particularly within our young squad. It’s been encouraging to hear from opposing teams that our performances on the pitch often belie our league position – a real testament to the hard work and quality within the team.

The journey hasn’t been easy, but the growth is undeniable. We must maintain this unity and continue to build on the strong foundation we’ve laid in order to achieve our long-term ambitions.

Alongside the players’ commitment and effort, I also want to thank my staff, who have continued to work tirelessly, remained committed and supported each other throughout the season. Without this fantastic group of people, the job would be far, far tougher!

We’ll use the rest of the month to lay a few more bricks on top of what we've built so far, before taking a well-earned rest and preparing to go again next season.