MANAGER Joey Dunn is vowing Runcorn Linnets will only come back stronger after congratulating Glossop North End on their well-deserved title success.

Dunn’s team finished Premier Division runners-up in the North West Counties League for a second successive season but says Glossop are worthy champions while stressing that Linnets will be more determined than ever in 2015-16.

“Once I have had a couple of weeks’ rest we will be right back at it planning another assault on a league which has sadly been so close for the last two seasons,” said Dunn.

“We have worked hard to put Linnets back where we think the club should be. I was fortunate to play for the club in what now would be the Conference North and we have aspirations step by step to climb that ladder again.

“Adversity is something that should be used to reflect upon and provide fuel to reach even higher in achieving your goals. So we will hopefully be back firing on all cylinders come the pre-season and season proper in August with the last two seasons being the driving force to hit those required heights.”

Dunn admitted he could in no way be critical of his players for dropping points late in the season once the hangover from again missing out on promotion had set in.

He added: “Last season as the manager of the Linnets, I felt that we had left something out there and had lost the league when it was won by Norton. But this season the biggest accolade I can pay Glossop is that I am immensely proud of my team’s efforts and points total and genuinely believe that the league has been well and truly won by a fantastic effort from (Glossop manager) Chris (Willcock) and his team.

“I am sure that Chris would have been concerned by the number of games they were left with coming into the last few months. However, their run has been nothing short of amazing and as a football man, I can only express my admiration for the way Glossop have gone about their business.”

Dunn also had a message for fans, who have again given Runcorn the highest average home crowd in the NWCL.

“The following has been fantastic again and even when we didn’t pick up wins when we needed this year, you never voiced any negative views to either me or the players for which I am extremely grateful,” he said.

“You have always been a knowledgeable and honest set of fans and on behalf of the players, staff and officials can only sincerely thank you.”

Dunn’s team were beaten 1-0 by FA Vase and League Challenge Cup finalists Glossop on Saturday in the final match of Runcorn’s season with Ben Richardson’s second-half goal avenging 2-0 defeat by Runcorn at Surrey Street in September.

Michael White had a 41st-minute penalty saved by North End ‘keeper Greg Hall in front of a crowd just short of 500.