Manager Tim O’Shea is excited by the potential of Cray Wanderers.

The 58-year-old was previously assistant to Neil Smith but has taken the main role at Flamingo Park after the latter left to join League 1 Crawley in March.

O’Shea could guide Wanderers to an impressive top-10 finish in Isthmian Premier during a memorable first season at their new permanent home.

“I flip-flopped with the decision to step up and do it,” said O’Shea. “But when you've got a changing room like that, it was going to be very difficult to walk away when Smudge got his job.

“Now I'm in it and I've been given the chance, I'm excited. I think we've got a lot of work to do in the summer, as you do.

“Our objective now is to try and keep hold of the nucleus of this team, and then try and add a little bit more to it. From the turn of the year to now, we're probably a top-eight side.

“It's just a case of getting three or four in just to boost what we've already got. The second half of the season has been absolutely magnificent for Cray Wanderers.

“We've carried a little bit of form into the tail end of the season.

“Having more than 2,000 people here on Easter Monday (for the 2-2 draw with Dartford) was beyond anybody's dreams,

“There were a few neutrals here who saw that we do try and play a little bit of football. We've got some good characters, some good players in amongst them.

“Hopefully, they go away during the post-season, they spread the word that there's a decent club on their doorstep, and we get a few more through the door next year.”

Skipper Tom Bonner has already committed to the new season.

But there are, of course, potential pitfalls and O’Shea admitted he could face a battle to retain the services of full-backs Darion Dowrich and Ike Orji.

“You've got to accept that this is still a place that is finding its feet,” added O’Shea.

“The guys do it well and they want to be self-sustainable. They're not going to just throw money out, silly money out.

“So, with that in mind, we are probably going to be a budget that's... You know, it doesn't matter what budget they give us, we're going to make a fist of it either way.

“But some of these players, they're going to get a phone call in the summer, I'm sure, from the other big clubs, especially the full-backs, because they're decent players.

“They're only 19, they're the ones that you probably need to try and convince but they love it here.

“Their next progression really, the two of them, should be full-time football. Not, with all due respect, going to National League South if they're still part-time.

“It's full-time football because they're young enough and still got plenty of promise.”

Cray have also played their part in the title race, losing at Horsham, drawing with Dartford and ironically beating Billericay, who are in pole position to go up as champions on the final day.

“It's mad, isn't it? That just works itself out,” said O’Shea on their results against the top three in recent weeks.

“They've all had their runs and if Billericay end up going and finishing the job, then fair play to Gary (McCann, manager) and the boys.

“Whoever wins it deserves it, ultimately, don't they? So, I'm sure they're going to be disappointed, Dartford, after Monday but they're a good side.

“It might be play-offs for them, but there's no reason why they shouldn't go and do it that way.”