Matt Tootle sure Notts County can challenge for promotion

Matt Tootle has claimed that Notts County are more than capable of challenging for promotion from League Two next season.

The former Crewe Alexandra man had suggested last summer that the Magpies could have been up in the playoffs, but the season ended up being a slog for safety in the end.

Tootle told the Nottingham Post: "When I signed here last summer I probably looked a bit of an idiot to some people because I said we would get promoted.

"We were third at the start of the season even though we weren't playing very well.

"But the class we had in the team, and the players we had, we knew we weren't playing to our ability.

"But we were winning games because we had that experience and that bit of quality was coming out now and then.

"Then something went wrong over Christmas and I don't know what it was.

"I believe if we still had something to play for then we wouldn't have lost two out of the last three.

"The Pompey game would have been different too if we had been closer to the play-offs.

"So looking at next season with the right additions I think we will be up there.

"I won't look stupid this time by saying it. Every team we played, the opposition would say that our team on paper was ridiculously good.

"If we can continue what we were doing and keep sticking to how the gaffer wants us to play, we will challenge I am sure of it."

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