With the future of trophy-winning coach Phil David in doubt, Buckman has insisted that regardless of who is calling the shots next season, the foundations are in place for an even more successful chapter in the club's history.

After finishing fourth in the EPL and winning the KO Cup last season, Phantoms' captain fantastic is confident his team has the ability and experience to cope with any upheaval that may be coming their way.

He said: "We have just finished a great season and we all enjoyed working with Phil, but things change fast in this game so we have to be prepared to work under whoever the club decides to bring in.

"Phil did a good job and helped us turn our season round after a poor start and he deserves a lot of credit, but if he is not coming back the club will move on as it always has. I have worked under a number of great coaches and picked up an awful lot, and that goes for Phil too. But I am sure the club will make the right choice for the good of Phantoms hockey.

"But I think whoever does come in will find a talented and motivated team which is determined to build on it's past achievements.

"We finished fourth but next season we want be right up there in the top three and to win another trophy. It is no good just saying we had our best season in four years, we want to improve on that."

To do that however Buckman knows he and his team mates will have to hit the ground running come September.

"We need to start a lot better than last year when our poor start cost us any realistic chance of winning the league despite our great run from November onwards.

"With the elite clubs like Guildford, Bracknell and Slough all likely to strengthen in the close season we must be right on our game if we want to be mixing it up with them and Sheffield and Milton Keynes will not be standing still either.

"I am not sure if the club plan to bring in any new players for next season but we have a great core of local guys and some of the best British players so whatever happens I think we will be strong again.

"We proved last season that we are one of the best teams in this league, now we want to go one better and become THE best team in the league."