New dawn, new era, new stadium, new season. Enough already! Let’s get the season underway. I really can’t wait to see the Bees in competitive action at The Hive.

Only when we start to play for points, for me, can the ghost of Northampton begin to be exorcised.

The bookmakers and the pundits don’t know really what to make of us. Being relegated out of The Football League is a kick in the teeth in every regard, but we must have a chance of doing well this season.

The side that the Bees were putting out during 2013 did not deserve to be relegated; the results achieved in that period put the team comfortably in mid-table. But over a 46 match season the club did deserve to drop down into the Conference; the league table tells you as much.

In the early stages of last season we looked as if we could concede at any moment, but the Bees are now much more defensively sound. The defence has a settled look about it and even if a player is injured and another one steps up to take his place, they all look as if they know the drill.

The other areas of the team are possibly less settled, but this could mean that there are a number of players jockeying for position and the man in form in matches and in training is likely to get and keep the gig.

Playing with two wide players we look able to deliver quality balls into the box; we are not content with the ball merely being in there, they like to pick out a player and of course that gives the forward a much better chance of getting an effort on target than having to scrap for the ball in the first-place.

Having said that however it is certain that a degree of scrapping for procession will need to be in evidence all over the pitch, I think we all know that.

It seems that Chester will have considerable support at the game and I’m pleased about that. The more the merrier as it will make the atmosphere all the better and only then if we score a goal, or concede a goal, will the emotions of joy and despair that have been dormant during the close season be out on display again.