CANVEY Island manager Danny Heale says he is already looking ahead to next season as he aims to avoid another campaign like the last one.

The Gulls only secured their Ryman Premier League status on the final day of the campaign, as they came from behind to record a 3-2 win over Wingate & Finchley.

In the end, even defeat would have seen Canvey safe but after 54 minutes on Saturday they were in the relegation places and staring down the barrel of relegation to the Ryman One North, as results went against them.

Canvey survived the drop by five points following their turnround at the Prospects Stadium and Heale, fresh from his second campaign as manager, says he felt their season was dictated by a host of injuries and a lack of funds.

“It has been hard,” he said. “At half-time on Saturday we were down and out, but the boys knew what they needed to do and they showed great character and got their rewards.

“We have a lot of young kids here and it has been hard for them at times. We had six players under 20 featuring on Saturday and credit to them they played well but it’s a lot of pressure.

“We have had long-term injuries to Ishmail Kamara and Rio Bryan-Edwards and had a number of key players missing. We had Jay Curran out for about 15 league games, Kevin Dobinson for around 20 games, John Easterford about 14 games through injury and suspension and Harrison Chatting missed 12 weeks through injury.

“But we should be in a better position financially next year as well, so I am hopeful this team will progress.

“We will get the goalkeeper situation sorted for next season (with Tim Brown returning to West Ham) and get a striker as well. I have been on the phone non-stop since Saturday.”

Heale says his personal highlight of a difficult season was February’s thumping 3-0 win at then promotion-candidates Dulwich Hamlet.

He also praised the team’s FA Cup run, which saw them get to the final qualifying round before exiting after a replay against Conference South play-off finishers Havant & Waterlooville.

“I remember watching the draw for the first round and drawing Preston North End out of the hat was very exciting,” he said. “We took Havant really close but couldn’t quite get there.

“On the flip-side, the 4-0 defeat to Hampton & Richmond Borough earlier this month was hard to take. But I would say the lowest point was a 1-1 draw with Witham Town in February, as they scored their equaliser in the 97th minute despite there only being three minutes injury time.”

Player of the season: Harrison Chatting Goal of the season: Kevin Dobinson (vs Hertford Town Sept ’14) and John Sands (vs Dulwich Hamlet Oct ’14)