RUNCORN kick-off their new season believing they can regain their place in the Conference.

League sides have already had a few games to disabuse fans of any notions they might have harboured about close season transformations.

And this Saturday sees the return of the Linnets, who promised so much in the Unibond Premier Division last year but failed to deliver, finishing fourth when promotion to the Conference had looked a real possibility.

The Linnets play host to Emley, the village team that gave West Ham a fright in last year's FA Cup, on the opening day of the season.

It begins a spell of four games in nine days, three of them at Canal Street.

Runcorn were handed a close-season boost when potential rivals Boston United transferred out of the Unibond to play in the Midland league.

Linnet's vice-chairman Tony Bamber was hopeful that next May would see his club returning to the Conference.

He said: "We are hoping to maintain and improve on our performance last season. Hopefully at the end of this season, we will achieve our aim of promotion back into the Conference."

Last season saw great uncertainty at Canal Street, with developers Morbaine being called in to look at building on the ground.

But Tony sees no problem should Runcorn come out on top, owing to work undertaken last season.

"We believe that we would meet the necessary criteria, and we can comply with any further criteria they might impose," he said.

As regards the finances of a club, whose crowds have been dwindling, Tony added: "We are still looking to provide the club with a sound financial base and we are working with others to achieve that."

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