MANAGER Jim Harvey is hoping he can keep his Forest Green squad together this summer.
Rovers turned in their most complete display of the season on Saturday as they swept aside Rushden and Diamonds 4-0 at the New Lawn with a confident performance to bring down the curtain on their home Blue Square Premier programme in style.
Despite suffering a 2-1 defeat at York City on Tuesday night, Harvey’s men are now mathematically safe and can prepare for a 12th season at the top table on non-League football.
But it remains to be seen how many of his squad will still be around when pre-season training comes around in early July.
“I don’t know what will happen,” said Harvey. “I hope I can keep them together or I may lose a few.
“That would be disappointing as we were spot on and put in a first-class performance.”
The main question mark will hang over the future of top scorer Andy Mangan, whose hat-trick on Saturday took his tally for the season to 29 in all competitions.
He is now odds-on to emulate ex-Rover Stuart Fleetwood, who finished top of the Blue Square Premier scoring charts last season, his all-competition tally of 36 earning him a move to Charlton Athletic, who were relegated to League One at the weekend.
Fleetwood is currently on loan at League Two side Exeter City, having also played for Brighton and Cheltenham Town this season.
Mangan has scored 25 league goals, and sits three clear of Oxford’s James Constable, and four ahead of another former Rovers man, Salisbury’s Charlie Griffin, and Stevenage’s Steve Morison.
His goals have already alerted League sides, with Cheltenham Town’s Martin Allen among those reportedly interested.
Another out of contract, is Adriano Rigoglioso, who also shone on Saturday with a well-taken goal, while setting up two for Mangan.
“Andy was terrific, and now has a good chance to be top scorer, while Celi (Rigoglioso) showed he is a quality player,” said Harvey.
“It was a nice way to finish off the season at home, with nice football, good goals, a clean sheet and excellent work-rate.
“We were so much in control and could have won by more. It all came together.”
Forest Green visit Grays Athletic for the final game of the season on Sunday (4pm). Grays could still be battling to stay up if Weymouth beat York on Friday night.
l Paul Stonehouse has been voted the supporters’ player of the season.
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