TERRAS BACK IN TOP FLIGHT THANKS TO 'INNER BELIEF'

NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH PLAY-OFF WINNERS 2019-2020

- JOHN LYONS

AS THE sun set on Weymouth’s promotion to the National League, manager Mark Molesley was already beginning to look to the future.

Appointed by the Terras in 2017, the former Bournemouth, Aldershot and Hayes midfielder has proved to be an inspired choice.

True, there was play-off pain in his first season in charge, but back-to-back promotions have since followed to take Weymouth back to Non-League’s top-flight for the first time since 2009.

Just don’t expect Molesley to let success go to his head. He’s already plotting next season’s return to the big time.

He said: “As I have found with management, when you achieve your goals it’s relief and then it’s ‘what’s next?’. You have to be learning and planning all the time.

“When you step up, the challenges keep coming and that’s what you live for. This group thrive on challenges.”

While he is the undoubted leader of the Terras pack, the 39-year-old is keen to share the credit around and relishes Weymouth’s role as underdogs out to prove the doubters wrong.

“I’m not surprised with what we’ve done because I always try to surround myself with the right people – with drive and energy,” he explained. “Externally people probably didn’t think we would do the things we’ve done.