COLIN Todd is urging Wanderers fans to forget the disappointments of the past and look forward to an exciting future.
The Burnden boss has guided his team to top spot in Division One just five months after the bitter blow of relegation and he is confident they can stay there.
He told shareholders at the club's annual meeting today - the last to be held at Burnden Park - that there was no need to dwell on the torment of failing in the Premiership.
Every effort, he insisted, was going into making an immediate return with Wanderers aiming to be in a stronger position to establish themselves in the top flight.
"The disappointments of last year were there for all to see," Todd acknowledged, "But I'm in the business of looking forward to what I hope will be a bright future.
"There is still a long way to go but the signs are very encouraging."
Todd believes the summer appointments of Phil Brown as his right hand man and Martin Dobson as the club's youth development officer strengthened his backroom team while the close-season transfer dealings gave added strength and balance to his playing squad.
But he also made it clear that he is determined to make more signings.
"We've had a terrific start by any standards," the manager said, "but we've got to be looking to build on the performances and continue to improve the strength of the squad." Wanderers have stepped up their recruitment drive by lodging inquiries for specific transfer targets but they aren't just reacting to the problems caused by injuries and impending suspensions.
Todd explained: "It's overall strengthening. I'm building up a squad as well as a team and, if I can improve on it in any way, I will do.
"And players, who are already here, have got to accept that. It's a squad that gets you through."
Shareholders were given details of the background to how the club's finances were affected by promotion to the Premiership. Turnover last season rocketed to £14.3 million with gate receipts soaring to £3.4 million.
Wanderers made a £200,000 profit but it took the sale of Alan Stubbs to Celtic to prevent them making the biggest loss in their history.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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