His fifth anniversary as Tigers player/manager has been a time for reflection – and the admission that the last three years have not been good enough.

The last two seasons have been 11th place finishes, and 17th in 2005/06 was the lowest finish in Keeble's reign.

As a player who won the United Counties League Premier Division title three times and reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase, he wants to taste success as a manager.

He said: "In my first two seasons in charge we finished seventh and third and they are the sort of positions I want us to be finishing.

"As a player I was with successful sides and that's what I want as a manager."

The Tigers last won the championship in 2003 and this season began with much optimism after the return as co-manager of Dick Creasey, the boss behind that title win.

But the partnership with Keeble didn't work out and Creasey left just three months into the season.

Keeble said: "We felt his experience and knowledge would help us challenge the top boys, but things change over time and it wasn't to be.

"It was a big blow to us and subsequently we lost a few players.

"The biggest disappointment of the season was that we didn't finish higher.

"I thought we had built a squad at the start of the season which was good enough to win the league.

"It just goes to show that you can have the best 11 players in the league, but if they don't blend it means nothing."

Keeble believes that losing red-hot striker Liam Nimmo to Gainsborough Trinity and creative midfielder Matt Oswin to Brigg Town were also siginificant blows.

He will be working hard this summer to attract new players to the club, which is looking for a new main sponsor after Allison Homes' deal expired.

Keeble said: "I've already spoken to a handful of players about coming to us.

"Not knowing the budget yet makes it harder, but I don't want players coming for money – I want players who want to win games."

The Tigers play Boston United in pre-season and are hopeful of a visit by newly-promoted League One side Peterborough United.