Notts County chairman Alan Hardy pays tribute to released players and pledges to build for "another season to remember"

Alan Hardy has paid tribute to the players released by Notts County this week and pledged to build for "another season to remember".

The Magpies finished fifth in League Two last season and took on Coventry City in the playoff semi-finals.

It didn't go to plan, however, as Notts lost 5-2 on aggregate, and although Hardy was left with resentment over the unjust refereeing decisions, he will look ahead to the 2018-19 campaign.

"When you get that close to tasting success, it summons a deep-seated passion to go one better and that will be our aim next season," Hardy wrote in the Nottingham Post.

"We have a fantastic manager, we have a squad who have forged a tremendous spirit, and we have you - the supporters.

"Your incredible backing throughout the course of the campaign both home and away was outstanding.

"It is a real source of motivation, and I am determined to ensure it is rewarded with a magical season which I hope will make up for the anguish of last week.

"We have already started our battle plan for next season and this week we unveiled our retained list.

"It is always an exceptionally difficult time because you have to say goodbye to players who you have got to know, respect and admire.

"You see them on a daily basis, you see how hard they work, and you appreciate everything they have given to the cause.

"To then say goodbye is extremely difficult, and I would suspect that any manager will tell you, it’s probably one of the hardest jobs they have to do.

"I would like to place on record my thanks to those players who have departed us this week.

"They all played their part and I would have dearly loved for them all to have gone out on the high of securing promotion under the Wembley arch.

"Now, though, it is a time to look ahead to the new season knowing we have a core group already at the football club that I am sure will be determined to march us to glory.

"It is going to be another busy summer when we look to supplement the squad with quality over quantity in our bid to reach our destination.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of giving you another season to remember.

"Hopefully this time it will end in perfect fashion knowing the events of last week was just a brief pit-stop of disappointment in our continued journey towards success."

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