Hughes: We need the crowd on our side

Since Hughes and fellow joint-manager Paul Foot took control of the club in November, Boro set out on a charge towards the play-offs that sadly faltered in the final weeks of the campaign.

Spurred on by this, Hughes and Foot are now hoping to take further steps in the progression of the club, that hopefully will include a sprinkling of glory this time next year.

“The fanbase we have had this season has been amazing, especially as we have reached the 500 and 600-mark,” said Hughes.

“We need to show them what we are trying to do because we know that travelling to Bridlington for home games isn’t easy.

“We want the fans to back us as we head into a massive season for the club.

“If we could gain promotion and then move into a new ground the season after, what an achievement that would be.

“The fans can be our 12th man in this, If they back us and get behind us then it could free up some extra funds for a player or two to help us over the line.”

Hughes has harsh views on the 2014-2015 season, deeming it to be something of a failure.

He added: “It wasn’t a success, our aims were to make the play-offs and we failed in that.

“We have grown stronger as a club and a team though, which is positive.

“People will obviously look at the games at Ossett Town and Albion, but I thought Farsley was the turning point.

“The fact that we were reduced to 10 men and the game as a whole took everything out of the lads.

“When we played against Bamber Bridge a few days later, the lads looked gone.

“We dropped more points at both Prescot and Warrington, if we hadn’t then we would have sneaked in the back door.

“Circumstances hurt us throughout the latter part of the season, like Tom Corner’s suspension, the knee injury to Gary Bradshaw, and Jimmy Beadle’s slight dip in form after the magnificent season he had.

“A big plus towards the end was the form of Ryan Blott, whose goals took us very close.”

Hughes is confident that his side would have been in with a great shout had the taken their place in the play-offs.

“I have been involved in play-offs all my career, they are a lottery and the best team doesn’t always win,” the former Hull City man said.

“Darlington were the best team, but with a bit of luck I think we would have pushed them all the way.

“Darlington manager Martin Gray underlined after our 2-1 defeat against Darlington how far we had come.

“He said to me what an improvement we had made to the team and that they knew they were in a game that day.

“This is encouraging to hear for us, but we don’t want to stop there.”