After finishing 12th in the league, only eight points away from the much coveted top ten and 12 points clear of the drop zone, Phillips wants to build on a solid campaign.

"We want to keep improving on last season," declared Phillips
"We're not going to win the league or finish in the top three, but we are more than capable of finishing in the top ten.

"We look at the league and there are five, six or seven teams ahead of us at the moment and another eight or nine that are similar to us.

"The aim is to finish on top of that group of teams, and if we do that then we will finish in the top ten. To do that though, we need to become more consistent than last season.

"I want us to go and win two or three on the bounce and go to South Wales and win on a more consistent basis, these are things that we failed to do last season and if we are looking at the top ten, it is something we must do."

Phillips firmly believes that with the squad himself and Lee Jones have assembled, The Ancients can perform much better than last season.
"There are some very good young players in our squad this season, said Phillips.

"People like Lee J Jones and Mark Stewart. I have spoken to people at Wrexham after their release and they have said that they may come back to haunt them and that they were very unfortunate not to have been offered deals.

"There is a lot of talent coming through and Joe Price, Aaron Aby and Khoz Hematinafar have already shown promise while Michael Latham is another who has a big future."

Former Wrexham midfielder Phillips is desperate for his side to get points on the board early on after being given a tough start to the season.

"We don't have an easy start with TNS at home and Port Talbot away coming up.

"Welshpool are a similar team to us and after a good start they only just finished above us. They have had decent squads in recent years but some of those players have left.

"If we have any ambition we need to beat Welshpool at home, we failed to do so last season and this is a game come the end of the season where we may look back on."

Druids only doubt for the opener is Phillips himself after he twisted his ankle during pre-season.

New GAP CONNAH'S QUAY boss Steve O'Shaughnessy insists he is feeling no added pressure despite the added expectancy around Deeside Stadium following the takeover from GAP Personnel.

O'Shaughnessy, who has brought in several new faces after another pre-season of upheaval at The Nomads, is instead focused on gelling his new arrivals together.

"Every manager is under pressure," he declared. "I'm not really feeling any added pressure despite the takeover at the club. I know in my mind that if I give 100 per-cent and the players match that then I will be okay.

"The squad is newly assembled and will need time to gel, but there are a lot of positives around the club.

When pressed on his ambitions for the new campaign, starting tomorrow at home to Haverfordwest, O'Shaughnessy refused to be drawn on specifics.

"The team is a young team at the moment and we are still looking to bring in some much needed experience," he said.

"Experience is the key, and with a difficult opening six matches to the season we will need patience. You only have to look at Rhyl and see that they have brought several players with experience of a professional club.

"Obviously we are aiming for survival first and foremost but then there is the need to push on, a mid table finish would be a good start for the team."

After several new arrivals and a number of departures, Quay fans will be unfamiliar with a few faces to begin with, but O'Shaughnessy feels that two players in particular will excite the fans.

"Craig Davies is one to look out for," said O'Shaughnessy. "He has a lot of pace and ability. Unfortunately he is injured for six weeks with a knee problem but we will have him back sooneenough and that will be a big plus.

"Adam Dickinson is another who is going to be a big player with plenty of quality. Again however, he is not fully fit and hasn't kicked a ball in a year so he will take some time."

Long-term injury doubts Dickinson and Davies aside, Quay have a fully fit squad at their disposal.

Ahead of the new Welsh Premier League season, new AIRBUS manager Craig Harrison insisted that nobody could more pressure on him than himself.

Having taken over the role left by player/manager Gareth Owen, who went to join Rhyl, Harrison highlighted his ambitions for the campaign, starting tonight at newly promoted Prestatyn, (kick-off 7.30pm).

"I'm sick of people say 'let's see how it goes'," admitted Harrison.
"I don't mind admitting that my aim is to move the club forward, whether that be in terms of points or positions.

"Position wise, top ten is the definate aim, but, top twelve as worst. Any lower and it would be an disappointment. Nobody at the club is putting pressure on me to succeed, except myself.

"I'm a confident person and I believe wholly in my ability and the ability of my players to progress.

"I wouldn't have taken the job on had I been worried about what lies ahead.

"We have managed to keep the back five together and they conceeded the fourth or fifth lowest in the league last season, it is a great base to work from.

"Coupled with that we now have people who can score goals, Mark Cadwallader has come in and grabbed goals while Tom Rowlands and Paul Hallows are on fire."

The former Middlesbrough defender is still looking for additional bodies, with a goalkeeper still top of his priorities.

"We need someone to push Chris for a place in goal," said Harrison.

"It is not judged on his performances but someone needs to challenge him. As well as a goalkeeper we are aiming to bring in another body."