DELIGHTED Portland United boss Franklyn Clarke said the Blues can now start planning for the 2022/23 Wessex League Premier Division season after achieving safety.

Clarke’s men were already assured of safety prior to Tuesday night’s fixtures thanks to their healthy points per game (PPG) record.

In Step 5 this season, the bottom clubs in all 16 divisions will be relegated, with the four worst second-bottom teams on PPG also taking the drop.

Amesbury’s 2-1 loss to 10-man Brockenhurst on Tuesday has now taken the Blues out of the relegation conversation completely on both total points and PPG.

READ MORE: Amesbury Town 0-0 Portland United - match report

Portland now have their sights set on reaching a target of 40 points, finishing off the remaining eight games of the campaign in good form ready for next season.

He told Echosport: “We can start looking at next season now. Obviously to be safe with eight games to go is credit to the lads.

“We can enjoy these last games with no pressure. I still want to reach that target that we’ve set. We’re now 10 points off that.

“We’ve got eight games to get 10 points and I certainly fancy us to do that. We’re happy to have officially survived in the league.”

Clarke backed his young side to go from strength-to-strength after what was for many of his players their first season at this level.

“We’ll just get even better, to be honest,” he said.

“This season was going to be the toughest one but now that we’ve got through this, I just fancy us to go from strength-to-strength.

“I’m really excited about looking at next season and how we can improve.”