PORTLAND United chairman Matt Lucas believes the end of the 2022/23 Wessex League season came too soon for the Blues.

Under new boss Kyle Critchell and assistant Jamie Symes, Portland took 22 points from their last ten games en route to finishing 11th in the Premier Division standings.

And such was the islanders’ level of improvement, Lucas was left to rue the culmination of the campaign.

“The season has come to an end at the wrong time for our first team,” he told Echosport.

“Kyle and Jamie have come in and what impresses me so much about them is that their communication skills are absolutely brilliant.

READ MORE: Portland United season review 2022/23

“Every single player under their leadership bought into what we’re trying to do as a club.

“All the players have done remarkably well. One thing I cannot emphasise enough is the team spirit.

“It’s something I’ve never come across quite as strongly as we have at Portland. I just want to bottle that up.

“It’s because of that that I feel we’ve got a really good season to look forward to next year.

“If we can keep the bulk of our squad together and everyone wants to play so well for each other, then bright times are ahead, certainly.”