DANNY Devine views next season as ground zero for both City and himself.

At 21, the local lad is approaching a decade at the club after signing a new one-year deal.

But the midfielder feels the return to League Two will be a new beginning for everyone after their relegation misery.

READ MORE: Devine signs for City

Devine said: “All the fans want is to see the players giving it their all and hopefully this time we can get promoted to give them something to cheer about.

“Just look at the recent years of the cup runs, going to Wembley and getting promoted and then getting to the play-off final under Stuart (McCall).

“I feel like all the progress that’s been made in the last few years has disappeared in the space of a season. So hopefully this year we can get straight back into League One.”

Fans expect another summer of upheaval as Gary Bowyer aims to start making his mark on the squad.

It is a familiar scenario for Devine, who was the first to take up his contract extension as City wait to hear from Jermaine Anderson and Luca Colville.

“Since I’ve turned pro, there have been a lot of ins and outs every season,” added Devine.

“I’m literally the only one who has stayed throughout the whole of it.

“But as you get older, you see different situations from the last few years and know how to deal with them.

“We’ve had three or four managers in the space of a year or so. There’s not really been any stability since Stuart left.

“But I think this manager is definitely the right man to take us forward for next season.”

Devine also feels more confident about his own part in Bowyer’s plans after playing the final two games – his first league starts for two years.

“The last few years have been very stop-start so hopefully next season I will stay injury-free and get a decent run in the team.

“That’s all I want. I want to come back to pre-season fit and then show the gaffer what I can do in training and the games we have.

“Then hopefully come the first game of the season, my name will be on the team sheet.

“I would have thought there will be more new faces coming in but it’s also a new season for the ones who were already there before. It’s a clean slate for everyone.

“But it’s been like that pretty much every year since I’ve been here. It’s nothing new.

“You’ve just got to get to know the new players and gel with them.

“It’s a bit of a step into the unknown but I’m feeling a lot more optimistic this time around.”