OUR season drew to a close last Saturday with a defeat by play-off club MK Dons.

Once again, the match continued in the pattern that we have witnessed many times this season, plenty of effort from the players, some good periods of play but a failure to take our chances.

We, without any doubt. had the two best chances of the game, failed to take either one of them and fell to a sucker punch five minutes from time.

The playing may be over but the work has only just begun.

We have all but two players out of contract therefore some serious negotiations will need to be carried out over the next couple of months - preferably sooner rather than later.

Not only have we to reach agreement with whichever of our own players John Trewick wishes to keep but there will be a whole host of players from other clubs available.

We have already discussed the situation as far as our current players are concerned; they will be informed during the course of the week.

We will also have to wade through the numerous lists that arrive at the club through e-mail, fax or post from agents desperately trying to get their clients a new club.

At a recent meeting of clubs it was revealed that more than 50% of League 2 players and in excess of 40% of League 1 players are out of contract this close season. Those sorts of figures means a lot of players looking for clubs. Of course, the better ones will still be in demand and will command substantial contracts, however there will be plenty available who are decent honest pros who will be an asset to any League 2 club.

Knowing the players, their ability, work ethic and character is vital in order to assemble a squad good enough to get us into next season's promotion race.

This season we have not had enough players who were capable of competing in League 1.

We have lacked one or two players who have had that little but extra in terms of ability, craft or pace.

Two players who spring to mind who have fitted that description and who have in the past helped us enormously are Gary Hooper and Lionel Ainsworth.

They were just the difference between a hard-working, gritty performance earning a draw and the winning of all three points because they could produce something special.

The clubs who have had success this season have all had good organisation, physical strength and a solidness about their performances but they all have had the odd players who could produce a little bit of magic when it mattered most.

We have found, not unexpectedly, that the quality of League 1 has been high with quite a number of outstanding players who are more than capable of playing at a higher level.

We must learn from our experience this season, do all we can to get the quality of players required to earn us a place back in League 1 and enjoy more of the success we have had over recent seasons.