These may be changing times for Luke O’Brien but one scenario remains frustratingly the same.

In a season that has seen him pass 100 league games, the local lad has become the unofficial longest-serving player in the City dressing room.

More significantly, he recently became a father for the first time.

But while O’Brien’s personal and professional life makes significant strides, the club’s position remains depressingly familiar.

Nearly three seasons on from his debut start at Accrington, City are still languishing in League Two – and they look as far away as ever from altering that status quo.

O’Brien said: “Every year comes around and we’re saying we’re going to get promoted. And everyone’s still looking for that one season when we get into the play-offs.

“It was Stuart McCall’s second season here when I started and he’d brought in some top players. We all thought that was our big chance to get out of this division. It didn’t happen, of course, and we’re still down here.

“You see teams like MK Dons and Bournemouth getting promoted and doing a good job in League One. But we’ve still got a massive challenge on our hands.”

O’Brien chalked up his own century against Lincoln at the start of February. Typically, the night ended in home defeat.

Read the full story in today’s Telegraph & Argus