St Albans City chairman Nick Archer believes the club’s first season back in the Conference South was “respectable” but says a top-ten finish must be the Saints’ aim for the 2015/16 campaign.

Under the stewardship of James Gray and Graham Golds St Albans finished 13th in the table and were never troubled by the threat of relegation.

However, inconsistency proved the Saints’ Achilles heel throughout the campaign. The side went without a win for seven matches from February to mid-March before rediscovering their form and ending the campaign with one defeat in seven games. How St Albans ended the season pleased Gray, who stated last month that it was imperative the club kept their current group together.

Archer is hopeful that will happen, with every member of the current first-team squad invited back for pre-season training, which begins on June 25.

The Saints chairman said: “This season went well. There were a couple of spells where we struggled to get results but overall it was a respectable season for the club.

“Graham and James have done very well. We talk throughout the season about the team, the players and how we can strengthen and improve.”

He continued: “At the start of every season the aim is to win the division, if you’re in it then you’ve got to want to win it.

“Next season I think we should be aiming for a top-ten finish and hopefully not too far off of the play-off positions.”

When asked if the club have already begun planning for next season, Archer said: “Very much so. We have a couple of prospects and we are already talking to players.”

He added: “We need more goals in the side. When you look at our goals for column this season then I think we are short by around ten.

“It is a case of where we find them. If they come from a striker or from an attacking midfield player.

“The other area we need to strengthen is in defence. We could do with a ball-playing centre-back who can start attacks by bringing the ball forward.

“So they are the two positions we would like to strengthen. Then it is a case of working hard to keep the other lads at St Albans City.”

The Saints failed to make it past the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup this season, going out after a 1-0 defeat at Concord Rangers.

Archer wants that to change next term and says reaching the first round proper is vital for any non-league club.

He said: “Getting through to the first round helps you build the club. The FA Cup is massive to non-league sides and that won’t change because of the FA funding.

“The first round has to be our target. Of course it is never that easy but we must make sure we have the strongest possible squad for when the FA Cup begins.”