Macclesfield Town manager Gary Simpson admitted he was glad to have got a testing campaign out of the way, and he can now concentrate fully on refreshing his squad.
Simmo has already taken steps to tie down some players for next season, and a host of Silkmen have put their signatures to one or two-year extensions.
Simpson has also brought in two new faces, in the form of striker Tyrone Barnett from Hednesford Town and his new assistant manager, Glyn Chamberlain.
"I’m glad the season’s over now, our target was to stay in the division," said the Macc manager after the final game at Lincoln, where he and the late Keith Alexander made their names in Football League management. "We know the limitations of this football club with the budget we’ve got and we don’t want to make out that we’re happy with that, we want to be trying to get to mid-table and push for the play-offs."
But Simpson, in his first permanent managerial role, may have to accept that player-of-the-year Lee Bell and players’ star man, Jonny Brain, may have played their final games for the club.
Midfielder Bell and first-choice keeper Brain have yet to respond to the deals offered to them and Simpson conceded: "It’s difficult. I don’t begrudge anyone wanting to go out and better themselves. But the financial aspect is limited, and sometimes I've had to sacrifice one player to keep four."
Simpson’s retained list should be announced next week.
