PAUL Carden’s aim for next season is simple – win the Evo-Stik Premier Division title with Warrington Town.

After taking over in October, Carden has narrowly missed out on guiding Yellows to a play-off place in their first ever season at this level.

They finished 10th after a 1-1 draw at Matlock on the final day of the season on Saturday, seven points behind Nantwich Town in the last play-off spot.

Carden says he anticipates a busy summer before the 2017/18 season starts in August but that he would not have it any other way.

“We have got to be challenging next year and I don’t mean just for a play-off place,” he said.

“I want us to be up there fighting to win the title and I want to bring in players that will enable us to do that.

“I don’t want players that want to come to Warrington just to be at a nice club.

“We need players with a bit of a mean streak about them. We need players that don’t want to play at this level and want to push higher.

“They need to be like me. I don’t want to manage at this level for the rest of my career.

“I want to be higher and I want to achieve that at this club because it can be done.

“The summer will be a busy one but that’s how I want it to be. I don’t want it to be quiet at all.”

Since his arrival at Cantilever Park, Carden has overseen a huge turnover of players at the club.

Only skipper James McCarten, Danny Ventre, Lewis Codling, Gerard Kinsella and Scott Harries remain from the squad that began the season.

Title-winning captain Ciaran Kilheeney, Warrington-born goalkeeper Karl Wills, winger Scott Metcalfe and striker Ben Deegan are among those to have left.

Carden says he already has an idea of which members of his squad will still be around in August.

“I’ve had chats with guys who I want to be here next year. Some of them have options but others have said they are keen to stay,” he said.

“We’ve been talking to potential transfer targets as well. Things are starting to take shape.”

One player whose future is likely to be decided soon is full-back Josh Askew, who has been a revelation since arriving at the club on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

Askew has featured in every game since making his debut in a 2-0 Cheshire FA Senior Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers at the end of January, and his lung-bursting runs down the left flank quickly made him a favourite with Yellows fans.

The 19-year-old is about to embark on a trial with League Two side Chesterfield, but it is understood a permanent move to Cantilever Park is an offer he is considering.