WHITTON United boss Paul Bugg has set his sights firmly on promotion from Division One of the Thurlow Nunn Lague next season.

Bugg leads his side into tomorrow’s final league game of the season pleased with the progress the club has made since he took over as manager from Ian Brown in the summer.

Only four players were signed on for this season when the former Leiston Reserve team manager arrived at King George V.

After seeing his side defeat Long Melford 2-0 on Tuesday Bugg said: “We are now guaranteed a top-eight finish.

“If you had said at the start of the season we would do that and reach the Suffolk Senior Cup final I would have taken that.”

Whitton, who tomorrow travel to Downham Town, will face Ipswich Wanderers in the showpiece final which is expected to attract a large crowd to Portman Road on Wednesday, May 8.

Bugg said one of the highlights of the season has been the emergence of teenagers Josh Cheetham, Wes Doyle, Ryan Flynn and Dale Hammond.

“All four of them are 16-years-old and two of them have played their way into the squad for the final.

“The form of Mical Moore and Kris Nita have also been plus points while Ethan Clarke would be in the running for our player of the season along with Tom Bradlaugh, who has scored 26 goals.”

Bugg revealed that one Ryman League player and four Thurlow Nunn Premier Division players – three of whom have approached Whitton – are interested in joining the club next season.

“We want to build on what we have achieved and push on next season when promotion will be our main aim.

“We have beaten all of the top six sides this season, but inconsistency has been our downfall,” said Bugg, who will ring the changes at Downham tomorrow.

“We know nine of the eleven who will start the cup final, so it will be a case of looking at the other players in the squad.

“We have nine players competing for five places in the squad, so four players are going to be disappointed,” he added.