David Noble says last season’s failure to reach the play-offs still haunts him – saying they finished eighth in a seven-horse race.

The veteran midfielder was speaking after the Saints won 2-1 at Silver Jubilee Park against Hendon in the latest game of their packed pre-season schedule.

And the chance to go one better and get the club into the Vanarama National League South back into the promotion race is part of the reason Noble has committed to another year at Clarence Park.

“It still hurts to be honest how we finished,” he lamented. “We finished eighth in a seven-horse race in my opinion.

“I still can’t understand how that happened but we want to go one better.

“It’s hard to tell [how we’ll go this season] as there are a lot of trialists and everybody is playing 45 minutes but some of those new players have already shown bits and pieces in pre-season.

“It’s difficult as well because we’re just playing games at the minute and not working on certain things like set-pieces and shape and patterns of play.

“But all that’s going to come as we go through pre-season and into the season proper.”

The 36-year-old played 45 minutes against the Greens under the baking sun but is looking to get at least one more year under his belt.

He said: “Another 45 minutes although it felt like an hour. No, it was good, I quite enjoyed it.

“I’m staying for another year. I’m just taking it one year at a time although I think I’ll be taking it over six months the way it’s gone in pre-season,” he joked.

“The fitness will come and I’m looking to play for another season for definite.”

And he also said he will continue to help out on the coaching side of things as and when the opportunity arises.

He said: “I spoke to Glen in the off-season and he’s happy for me to do a little bit more and the gaffer has said he wants to me start thinking about it more this season as I’m not going to be playing forever, as much as I’d like to.

“But I’ll do a little bit more, not too much because I need to concentrate on playing and keeping the fitness up, but if there’s a time Glen is happy for me to take a session, then I’ll be more than happy to do it.”