Spalding United are on a mission to defy the doomsters in their historic season

‘The Tulips’ are heading into unchartered territory this season with a first tilt at step two football in the club’s history.

But with prolific promotion winner Dean at the managerial helm, and supported by the financial power of chairman Andrew Killingsworth – one of the UK’s richest men – the club would appear to have a great chance of fooling those who are predicting a one-season stay in a division packed with full-time professional clubs.

Spalding celebrated long and hard after winning promotion from the Southern Premier Division Central last season, but they intend to be fit and raring to go by the time the National League North kicks off on Saturday, August 8.

“The chairman paid for us to go to Marbella to celebrate,” Dean told the club’s media team. “It took a couple of weeks to get over that, but plans are in place for next season when the remit is to consolidate.

"We don't want to even flirt with relegation and i don’t think we will. I see most of the predictions have us being relegated, but I don’t expect that to happen.

"Obviously we are pleased with what we achieved last season even if we made hard work of it at time. It was my fifth promotion and it was as good as all of the others.

"Continuity was then key for me. It was massive to keep the core of last season's squad together. We had to rebuild last summer, but it’s not easy to keep doing that. The players who have stayed are more than capable of playing at the next level and we’ve added good players to the squad. We will probably look to add three more players, but they have to be the right type.

"We have signed Dan Jarvis and Peter Crook from Peterborough Sports and they are elite players in their position. I signed them both for Sports and they’ve probably been the best two players at that club for the last three-to-four years. They are coming off a difficult season, but if we give them the right environment they will will come again.

"‘Jarvo’ could get double figure goals from midfield and ‘Crooky’ will give us great competition for the goalkeeper jersey. They are both very experienced, but also very hungry still.

"The plan is to get off to a good start and to get points on the board quickly. I expect us to be fit and a real 90-minute team capable of maintaining the intensity we will need. We will be a physical team that plays good football, like all my teams have been.”

Midfielders Josh McCammon, Dan Lawlor and Curtis Thompson, plus defenders Nathan Fox and Ben Hart are among those to have left Spalding.

The National League fixtures are released on Friday, July 10 with the season due to kick off on Saturday, August 8.

Spalding entertain AFC Rushden & Diamonds at the Sir Halley Stewart Field in their first friendly on Tuesday, July 7 (7.45pm kick off).