Silsden are looking forward to returning to their spiritual home for the next campaign and they will do it under the stewardship of Chris Reape, who took over as manager midway through last season.

Reape said: “It has been a struggle for me but a lot has changed since I took over and we all hope it will be a lot different in the new season back where we belong.

“I have put some irons in the fire and hope we will have a bigger squad.

“It’s all up in the air at the moment though, as it always is at this time of year, but we are optimistic and will be looking to push on and get into the top half of the table.

“The overall picture looks good and so does the ground to be honest. I won’t be sorry that we are not at Cougar Park anymore or at Keighley. They are very good places but they aren’t ours. The club wants its base back in the village.”

Reape moved up from the assistant’s role when Paul Schofield stepped down just before the turn of the year.

He endured a testing time as the Cobbydalers’ main sponsor went into administration, leaving the club with no option but to scrap payments to players.

The tough beginning did not dent Reape’s appetite for the job and he wants to have a full season in charge and bring some longer term success to the club.

“We have to be more solvent for the season coming up, with any income we make going back into our club,” said Reape.

“I want to get a few older heads into mix with the young lads who ended last season playing more than they expected.

“I’m still working at Oldham Athletic in their centre of excellence but I have the time needed to do the Silsden job properly.

“It is different nights for the Latics job so there is no clash and I will be able to oversee training and midweek games, so I’m ready for it.”