AND just like that, football is back.

By the time Saturday’s opener against Morpeth comes around, it will have been 98 days since the 2018-19 season ended in agony and heartbreak for Warrington Town.

After confirming their status as the only victims of the now-abandoned ‘super play-off’ system, the equation is simple for Yellows – same again, please.

By wanting more of the same, I do not want a repeat of the abject misery that descended over anyone of a yellow and blue persuasion on May 11.

If Town do what they did last season i.e. win their divisional play-off, they will be promoted. Simple as that.

Of course, in an ideal world Paul Carden’s men would cut out the need for that and take the direct route to the National League North by winning the title, allowing their players the luxury of sitting on a beach somewhere while the play-off lottery unfolds.

Warrington Guardian:

The 'super play-off' defeat to King's Lynn Town will still be fresh in the memory for Yellows. Picture by Mike Boden

However, this world is often far from ideal and there will be plenty of teams who will have something to say about that train of thought.

South Shields – who had their hopes of yet another promotion stunningly ended by Yellows in those very same play-offs – are sure to be up there again.

They have even switched to a “hybrid” middle ground between part-time and full-time football in order to ensure a repeat does not reoccur.

The likes of Scarborough Athletic and Basford United continue to throw money at their squads, while Ashton United and FC United of Manchester should be in the conversation after relegation from the league above.

Warrington Guardian:

No Yellows fan will forget the scenes following the play-off victory over South Shields. Picture by John Hopkins

Then there are Saturday’s opening-day opponents, who are well-fancied among the bookmakers for a promotion charge despite this being their debut season in the BetVictor Premier Division.

This kind of conversation will be happening at all of the afore-mentioned clubs – and all of them should include the team from our little corner of Cheshire.

Because so many of last season’s successful squad have chosen to stick around, Yellows have had the luxury of not having to go on an extensive recruitment drive.

No summer of upheaval here, signings were only brought in if they could improve the squad.

You could argue that each of the six new additions brings that in terms of supplementing both quality and depth.

Personally, though, I feel the addition of Steve Jennings in midfield could be a game-changer.

Yellows already have an outstanding central midfielder in the shape of the richly-talented Ben Garrity, but the experienced Jennings is just the partner he needs.

He will sit back and allow him to do his thing and when a rush of blood to the head arrives, he will be the calming voice in his ear.

On the whole, I am excited to be covering football again. If this season is anything like the last, it is going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

Strap yourselves in, folks!