TERRAS’ fans can afford to look forward to 2012/13 with a lot of optimism both on and off the pitch.

Although last season once again saw the club fighting for its life at the wrong end of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division table, there have been significant improvements in all areas.

Nigel Biddlecombe’s takeover from the Rolls family has given the claret and blue faithful renewed optimism and hope, and more importantly a feeling of unity.

It is also great to see people looking more to the future now rather than agonising over the past.

The controversy that was brought to the club by the likes of George Rolls and Malcolm Curtis will always be debated and often revisited but no longer does it appear to be at the forefront of people’s minds.

No one can blame anyone for having certain grievances with those two men but now is the time to look to the future and what could be a bright one at that.

Weymouth FC is now run by local people with the health of the club at their hearts. It has a local manager, a promising group of young local players and the prospect of a new ground on the horizon.

Add to that the potential fanbase the club can attract and there is no doubt most things are already in place for encouraging times ahead.

The important thing though is that people are realistic.

The board, the coaching team and the majority of the players are all relatively inexperienced in their respective roles.

Mistakes have and will be made but with time, togetherness and understanding, and with egos out of the equation, who knows what they could achieve.

Realistically, a play-off push and promotion are still probably a long way off at present but if the Terras can evolve gradually and sensibly, when they do eventually get into that position in a season or two’s time, they will be better equipped to maintain the step up.

Biddlecombe’s motto is ‘build it and they will come’ and he is right they will.

However, the foundations of stability and trust have to be in place first and after five years of turmoil at the club that is going to take a while to achieve.

A lot of patience is going to be required but I have high hopes that Biddie’s board, given time, will deliver.