David Wetherall cannot wait to roll out the old year and ring in the new - but insists it's not all been glum.

The last 12 months will not be remembered with much fondness by City as they slumped back into the basement division for the first time in a quarter of a century.

Wetherall suffered more than most in the dressing room because he was caretaker-manager at the time.

But despite that bitter blow, the skipper reckons that 2007 was not wall-to-wall doom and gloom at Valley Parade.

"Obviously it will mainly be remembered for us being relegated and to that extent most of us will be thinking roll on 2008'," said Wetherall.

"But the good news to come out of the year has been the financial stage of the club. We're on an even keel for the first time in years and hopefully that can give us the base to build for the future.

"The other bright aspect around the place has been the level of support. This is a massive club for the league we are in and the support that we're getting this season home and away is nothing short of magnificent.

"I spoke to one of the Tranmere lads after we played them in the FA Cup and he was saying how jealous they were of the league crowds we've been getting.

"We've had fantastic numbers coming to watch us and we know we should be doing better for them. That amount of support should be a real lift for us and we've got to make sure it affects us positively."

Wetherall was as confident as anybody that City could make a strong push for instant promotion from League Two and admits the season has hardly gone according to plan as they languish in the lower reaches.

He said: "The manager may well be making a number of changes and we don't know his plans. But our plans on the football side are simple - to get back up that league.

"Our aim at the start was promotion. Our aim now has got to be to get around the play-off positions and that's a big gap to bridge.

"It's ifs and buts but we've got to believe that we've improved a little since earlier in the season when we lost five in a row and went eight games without winning.

"The aim now is to start climbing again and then hopefully by March or April be in a position to have a late push for the play-offs."

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