They sang my name and it gave me the jump start I needed

Paul Holleran (PH): A lot of teams can talk about what-ifs. In 42 games you’ve got enough opportunities.

Not many teams could go through the run we went through and still not be far away.

We struggled early doors and were patchy, putting together two and three-game spells where we did really well.

But it wasn’t until the final 12 to 14 games where we became more consistent with our levels.

But because of where we were at halfway it was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs.

Do you feel the position you were in at Christmas was a false one?

PH: In spells we were good and we were winning quite a few games.

We had played a few more games than the other teams but we certainly deserved to be in the top three or four.

In the games against Cambridge, Stourbridge and Arlesey we looked quite competitive, but people need to realise we’re not the big-hitters in this league.

I know the new manager at Hemel well and we basically sent them down - a team that spend five, six, £700 a week more than we do.

You go right through the leagues from the Premiership down and it’s always the teams with the financial backing who are the top of their leagues.

It’s no fluke that Chester, Brackley and Fleetwood won theirs, but what we’ve got to do is utilise our resources the best we can and get value for money.

I’d have loved to have gone out and signed Andy Brown or Marvin Robinson when they were available.

But we’ve got to make sure the football club is run right and I understand what I can and can’t do.

Did you feel your job was under threat during the LONG spell without a win?

PH: When we got to Cambridge during that period I did think that if it doesn’t turn around and quick I’ll need to speak to the board.

But there were 80 to 90 fans at Cambridge and they sang my name right through the game and it gave me the jump start I needed.

We changed a couple of things and the players responded really well - we came out the other side as the form team in the division.

I’ve had a lot of good times in the game, including at Leamington, but it is when things aren’t going well that you see what people are made of.

I’ve been a first-team manager for 12 years and I learnt more last year than I ever have.

Hopefully, one or two of the players will have, too, and we won’t make some of the same mistakes we did last year.

Fans claim there aren’t enough local players in the team. Is this something you are KEEN TO RECTIFY?

PH: The problem is we’ve got nothing behind us, no under-21 or reserve team.

The first thing I brought up at my interview was the need to set up a youth team and to be fair to Jim [Scott] he’s done that, along with Mark Davidson.

I’ve done it at Solihull and Halesowen, because if you haven’t got an under-21 side, good local players won’t stay at Leamington.

In two to three years we’ll have an under-21 side and that will answer the questions about the local players coming through.

I’ve had every under-16 player up at training with us over the season so they can sample what it is like and, as time goes by, Leamington lads will force their way into the first-team squad.

But it’s not going to happen overnight.

How do you react to claims you are a negative manager?

PH: At Solihull and Halesowen I always had creative players and decent forwards and played with two up front and with width.

Whichever club I’ve been at, the goals against column has made pretty good reading.

I always try and get the spine of my team right.

I look for my sides to be organised because when you’re not conceding you’ve always got a chance.

But I also look to have pace in my side and play two up top.

Unfortunately, this season we haven’t seen as many goals as we would have liked but I believe there are more goals in the side than we showed.

I signed some good players and they’ve all had chances but the goals didn’t go in.

But that’s why clubs spend their money on goalscorers as they are the hardest thing to get.

What are your ambitions for next season?

PH: I’m confident we won’t have a group of players running towards the exit and the hardcore of players will be with us at pre-season along with three, four or five new faces and one or two triallists to freshen things up.

I start every season wanting to win the league and I’d love to go all out and make a title push.

If you take the positives from last season, for three-quarters of the campaign we matched Brackley. One quarter we weren’t good enough, but if we can be consistent for 40 weeks rather than 30 who knows what could happen?

The teams with resources usually win the leagues, but at the same time there is still room for teams like Leamington and it is up to clubs like us to change the status quo.

And a cup run?

PH: I’ve had Trophy and FA Cup runs and that is the one thing that has eluded us at Leamington.

The FA Cup and Trophy exits last season were not good enough and we were bitterly disappointed, but hopefully a few people have learnt a few things.

A cup run is what this club is crying out for. It gives everyone a lift and helps raise the profile of the club.

It is something we haven’t managed so far and it is high on the list to try and deliver.