Hi °C | Lo °C Harry Fay is refusing to lower his sights in terms of the target he is setting for his Dungannon Swifts side as the Premier League campaign prepares for kick-off.
This time last year Fay was new in the job after succeeding Joe McAree as manager at Stangmore Park.
Fay, however, wasn't scared by the weight of expectation on his shoulders and made breaking up the perennial top three of Glentoran, Linfield and Portadown in whatever order they finish, his aim.
The fact that the Swifts were a long way off the top three in the end didn't seem to matter much down Dungannon way.
A run to the Irish Cup final glossed over that completely as Fay's men reached the showpiece decider for the first time.
Ultimately it was heartbreak for the Swifts, even though they pushed Linfield all the way in the first Irish Cup final to be decided on penalties.
UEFA Cup and Setanta Sports Cup qualification meant that finishing eighth in the league was overlooked, but Fay won't settle for that again as he wants to be back in the top four.
"It would be a backward step for us if I was to say I wanted to be in the top six," said Fay, who takes his team to Newry City tomorrow afternoon.
"My honest assessment would be that we came up a bit short last season and I think our Irish Cup run got in the way.
"The top three or four has to be our aspiration this season.
"Glentoran and Linfield are always there and always will be. Portadown have been the model of consistency in achieving high finishes year after year and Cliftonville have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years.
"We'll be in the Setanta Cup for the third time in a row this season, it has given the players invaluable experience and that's the very least we will be hoping for."
Fay sold David Scullion to Glentoran in the summer and Rory Hamill also returned to east Belfast.
As far as his squad is concerned though, Fay believes his panel is as strong as ever.
"In Shea Campbell I believe I have a 20-goal a season striker," he said.
" The three players I brought from Limavady have been excellent and Matt Walton will hopefully prove a top class replacement for David Scullion."
