WITHAM Town boss Marc Benterman says further progress is the target for his side when they embark on another Isthmian League division north season.

Town’s players are busy preparing for the 2020-21 campaign, which is due to kick-off next month.

Witham finished 15th in the competitive division north last season and Benterman wants them to strive to finish higher, this time around.

Benterman said: “I felt we over-achieved last year – we were relegation favourites at the beginning of the season and we will be again this year due to the finances.

“Nothing has really changed for us as a club but we finished 15th last year and we couldn’t prevent what was happening, so we were happy with that position.

“The objective was to stay up and we achieved that and with regards to Covid-19, I felt we were more than capable of doing that anyway.

“This year is to make sure that every 12 months, we’re in a better position and we’ve gone back with a really talented group who have all bought into what we’re trying to achieve.

“We’ll be looking to push on but how far up the table we are, we’ll find out in the season.

“Our ambition is always to be better than we were previously so if we can finish 15th or higher, it’s been another successful season.

“With what’s gone on, we’ll be looking to retain our status at Step Four for another season.

“I think Covid-19 has probably put us back 12 months in our plan because it knocked us ever so slightly, so if we can just rebalance everything and then push on again, then we’ll be delighted.

“Many clubs around us are still struggling as well so we’re all in the same situation.

“We just need to keep progressing forward.

Witham will travel to play Grays Athletic FC (who play at Aveley FC) in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, September 12.

Town have been drawn at home in the FA Trophy first qualifying round where they will face Step Four side Hanwell Town, with the winners to host Aveley in the first round.