Column by former Gloucestershire CCC chairman John Light on the local sports scene

That is how I would sum this one up. There is no point in going through the season match by match, goal by goal, that is all a matter of record. Instead, I shall pick out some relevant points and end by looking to the future.

Two words sum up the season's start, and they are nobody's fault. Those two words - doubt and chaos. Doubt over what league we would be in and a bigger doubt about the club's future caused the inevitable chaos. What player would sign for a club that was so financially vulnerable.

A team was scrabbled together and a spirited win over Wrexham gave everyone hope - a hope that proved so very false.

Many of the players were obviously inadequate. Smith, Herring, Davies, M Fowler are ones who leap to mind. Hodgkiss and Dyer were injured and everyone was part-time. There was no meaningful pre-season and training opportunities were limited.

No wonder an awful autumn followed. The football was of a very poor standard and results were awful. Gloom abounded. Would we survive? Would anyone mind if we did not? These were questions being asked everywhere.

At the lowest possible point Dale Vince came along. It is no exaggeration to say he has saved the club. He has done more than that, he has given us hope and heart again. If you doubt that, you were not standing with him behind the goal at Tamworth, or listening to his post match broadcast.

We may not agree with some of his decisions but we cannot deny his commitment to the club he and all of us love. Changes were made, they had to be!

The playing staff had the opportunity of going full-time, an assistant manager was appointed - there was some cash for new players. Two realistic aims were established - avoid relegation and create a sustainable club. One had been achieved, and much progress has been made towards the second.

In football terms, however, we were always playing catch-up. The pre-season problems had set us back, as did the departure of three experienced players. (The Fowler brothers and Curtis McDonald). Perhaps losing Michael Fowler was not a problem - I thought he was barely worth his place. We missed Curtis on the left and, of course, Lee Fowler is very talented. I believe his wage demands were excessive and if granted would have wrecked the salary structure. His departure was therefore inevitable.

To plug gaps, too many loan players were signed. Loan players are for emergencies only. What does it do for the confidence of young players (Else and Henry for example) if their opportunities are limited by less than adequate loanees. Surely only one centre half, Quinn, was truly successful.

Hall was adequate in the middle of the defence but exposed elsewhere. We were never in a position to climb away from danger.

Many reading this will blame the manager, Dave Hockaday.

Firstly some facts. Dave had a long and distinguished footballing career.

His work in establishing and developing the Cirencester Academy was outstanding. In his service to Watford and Southampton football clubs he gained a reputation as a fine coach. Anyone doubting this I refer to the manager of Swansea or to Graham Taylor, one of the most successful league managers ever.

All this should make Dave a fine manager but does it? He ticks two of the three boxes needed for managerial success - character and coaching ability clearly and easily. But there is a third box - can he send out a team that is motivated and plays better than the sum of its parts. A team we can all be proud of.

His detractors will say no. They will cite poor team selection, players out of position and poor tactics. Dave has made mistakes, but for his two years here he has had to run a club on a hand to mouth basis. However narrow the margin, he has kept us in the Premier Division of the Conference.

Chairman Dale sees the value of consistency and continuity and has backed David. This is an act of loyalty but it is more than that, he has backed his judgment in doing it. I hope he is right.

The manager and chairman are two fundamentally decent men who are determined to take this club forward. They deserve a chance, but if the football fails Hockaday will have nowhere to hide. An increased budget, a real pre-season and the introduction of quality players will give him a real opportunity. He must take it. Otherwise.....

The best thing about the season has been the signing and emergence of young players. Stokes, Forbes, Styche, Dyer and Allen come into this category.

Signing and developing them is clearly DH's strength. That must be the way forward. Much as we loved Beesley and Clist, I suggest they are now past maturity.

I have been chairman of an underachieving professional sports club.

Developing our own players was the best way forward. "They have no baggage - they will play without fear", said Gloucester cricket coach John Bracewell.

It is not a quick answer, but it is surely the best.

Now for a summer of cricket and seeing a youth policy in action - so far one that is working.