91Èȱ¬

Colwyn Bay manager Frank Sinclair has agreed a new one-year contract and has immediately set his on sights on promotion next season.

Sinclair, 41, steered the Blue Square Bet North club away from what seemed certain relegation thanks to a six-game winning run at the end of the season.

He told 91Èȱ¬ Wales Sport he "verbally agreed a deal with the chairman last week" and expects to sign soon.

"We have this good momentum to build on and the players are with me," he added.

"I am trying to make the club more professional. I will keep the backbone of the side but am hoping to add six or seven [players] to improve the squad. We need more competition.

"After the season we have had, finishing mid-table would be a good achievement but I am looking a lot higher. I want to be challenging for the plays-offs and possibly even higher."

The former Chelsea defender was appointed in February following a run of just two wins in 14 games under two different managers. Results improved from the start but the north Wales club were already deep in relegation trouble and playing catch-up.

A shock home defeat against already relegated Droylsden in early April left them in deep trouble,

The Bay had games in hand but needed to win all six of their remaining fixtures during a hectic 15-day season run-in to be sure of retaining their status.

Incredibly they did win all six and ended up five points clear of the drop zone.

"The momentum we had did us a favour in the end," Sinclair said. "The players didn't feel tired because they kept winning.

"We got good wins and plenty of confidence from beating teams in the play-offs and top six or seven away from home and took it from there.

"After we lost to Droylsden, who were already relegated, I wondered if some of the players might be ready to throw in the towel.

"But we responded and I never lost my belief that we would survive. The squad was stretched but we ended up being comfortable.

"I always knew we had enough quality and it was purely a matter of confidence.

"We also brought in a bit more quality in attack and that made the difference. Shelton Payne and James Ellison both scored plenty of goals towards the end of the season and everyone contributed. It was a great achievement."

Sinclair said he will register as a player again next season and do pre-season training, but he does not intend to play, preferring instead to concentrate on being a manager.

"There is no reason why we cannot push on, but it's important we bring in quality," he added. "And it's important the new players buy into the ambition.

"The chairman [Bob Paton] has been very supportive and I will sit down with him next week and give him a list of the players I want and hopefully we can get them in soon.

"I am ambitious but I am new to this job. I have only been in it about nine weeks so it's a learning process. The board have backed me and want to work with them again next season and show my loyalty."