Heath's High Hopes For Reds Making It Third Time Lucky

The Reds finished fifth last season before eventually coming undone against eventually-promoted Boston United.

They matched their 2022-23 placing with Kidderminster - also the team who went all the way - putting a dagger through their hearts.

Heath is now entering his seventh season in charge and says the remit is quite simple: more of the same but with a happier ending!

The experienced manager spoke to the Derbyshire Times about the summer so far and how his side hope to cross the Vanarama National League North line next time.

"Obviously we want to aim at the play-offs again,” he said. “I never like making too many targets because it’s such a hard league, but we’ve got there twice in the last two seasons and we were ninth the year before that.

"We want to be competitive. We have to do that in an ever-expanding league where finances are playing such a part, and I feel our priority is to get value for money from the players we have.

"We are difficult to play against, or at least that’s what so many other managers say, and that is a key factor.”

They have some big games to look forward to first, with Sheffield Wednesday’s first team visiting this weekend to kick-off pre-season, with Notts County then next to test Alfreton in front of their fans.

Heath added: “The biggest thing for me was keeping a lot of the lads from last year as it always gives you a strong base. We need players to have an affinity to the club and each other.”