Chorley boss Jansen has grounds for optimism

Chorley boss Matt Jansen admits a play-off place is 'unrealistic' after a fourth game without a win on Saturday.
Andy Teague in action against TamworthAndy Teague in action against Tamworth
Andy Teague in action against Tamworth

But he is confident that three or four summer signings could propel the Magpies back into the promotion picture next season.

Chorley went down 2-1 at Tamworth on Saturday, leaving them eighth in National League North, eight points behind fifth-place Boston United, with four games remaining.

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Jansen was happy with the spirit his players showed at the Lamb Ground, however, and insists there are grounds for optimism next term.

The former Blackburn Rovers forward said: “We want to strengthen, we want three or four new additions.

“We’ve got our eye on a few that we want, and we have a nucleus, but we know where we need to strengthen and hopefully we’ll be able to do that in the summer.

“Mepps (Courtney Meppen-Walker) was a little bit tight, and Keil (O’Brien)’s out – we’ve had a few injuries at the wrong time, but there’s a good nucleus in there and a lot to build on for next year.”

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Chorley will look to take as many points as they can of the remaining 12 available, and see where it takes them, starting at home to Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday: “Results have gone our way again, which is frustrating – you can never say never, but it’s unrealistic.

“It was 10 games ago. But football is crazy and you never know what will happen, you win the next one and look again.

“They’re all massive games and we will bounce back.”

And Jansen felt his players were a tough hard done to at Tamworth: “I couldn’t fault the lads for their effort, their endeavour, their drive, their energy. There are fine margins in football.

“If you play like that and put that energy in, you’ll win more than you don’t.

“The lads eed to stick together because their energy and team spirit was fantastic and they deserved a lot more.”