Though only good enough for a tenth-placed finish, last season’s 62-point haul was the highest the Rocks have recorded since Blake took charge in the aftermath of relegation from National League South six years ago.
And having retained the bulk of his youthful team, the former Burnley and Leeds forward is optimistic that Bognor can gatecrash the top five.
“I look back at last season and, in my opinion, we should have finished a little bit higher,” the 48-year-old told The NLP.
“Just after Christmas, we’d put ourselves in a really good position to latch onto the coattails of the play-off teams. But then two or three key players go down injured and we just haven’t got the resources to fill those gaps.
Trajectory
“We suffered during that period and finished the season quite strong again, so there was that feeling of ‘What if ?’.
“Now, with the players we’ve kept, we look at the squad we’ve got and we feel confident. I don’t mean confident in the sense that we’re going to win the league or anything like that. This is such a competitive league and everybody will be adding quality.
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra June 16, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
