CHAIRMAN Toby Macormac says Warrington Town will be taking a backwards step if they fail to win promotion this year.

The Yellows open their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League First Division North campaign at title hopefuls Bamber Bridge on Saturday, before hosting Radcliffe Borough on Tuesday night.

Following a historic run to the FA Cup second round last season, Macormac insists Warrington – rated by bookies as second favourites – must be looking to go up.

“We’ll take any way we can get up,” he said. “We’d prefer to win it without going through the nail-biter that is the play-offs.

“Cup runs are great, and we’d love to have another one, but if we don’t get promotion it could be seen as a backwards step coming off what we have done last year.

“We have invested a lot, but we’ve not gone mad and it’s based on what we think other teams are budgeting.

“We’ve thought about the season after and the one after that, so if we get promotion we’ve saved enough to perhaps invest in back-to-back promotions.

“We’ve not gone all out, so it will still be tough to deliver [promotion] but I think we can.”

Warrington beat Welsh Premier League outfit Gap Connor’s Quay 2-1 on Saturday thanks to goals from Ciaran Kilheeney and trialist Nathan Quirk.

A young Yellows side finished pre-season with defeat to Bala Town at Cantilever Park on Monday.

And the chairman is confident Shaun Reid’s side head into the season in good shape.

“We go into what could be described as a tough opening game against Bamber, who are the bookies’ favourites,” he explained.

“We’re well-prepared. We’ve brought in players like Danny O’Donnelly and Steve Gillespie who look like they are going to make a real difference.”

Macormac added: “We’re maybe looking at one more signing, but aside from that we are happy with what we have in every position.

“We’ve got some good cover, and lads that aren’t necessarily utility players can offer strength in depth in other areas.

“When we look to the subs bench, there will be some real quality.”

That includes graduates from Warrington’s youth and reserve teams.

“We’re looking at 18 to 20 players to start with, but they will be 20 quality players and some young lads who have stepped up,” said Macormac.

“The likes of Ben Collins and Liam Turner will play integral parts this year, and we’ve also got some promising players in the reserve and youth teams.”