Nothing less than promotion to the Vanarama Conference this season will satisfy Oxford City president Thomas Guerriero.
City’s hopes of reaching the Conference North play-offs suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at home to Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday, leaving them five points off the pace.
But the Florida-based businessman, who was appointed director and president of the club in April 2013, insisted their aims remain unchanged.
Speaking after watching the Bradford game, Guerriero said: “If we finished sixth it would be nothing more than a failed season in my eyes.
“I don’t look at anything other than getting promoted as a positive result.
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“Obviously our plan is to compete and make the play-offs every year, whatever division we’re in.
“You compete to win and we’re very confident that we’ve put together the best squad that Oxford City have seen in years.
“We’re not here to just compete, we’re not here to be near the bottom of the table or the middle of the table.”
City remain outsiders in the promotion race, but Guerriero said that failure this season would not be a major setback.
“Our first goal is to make the play-offs and our second goal is obviously to get promoted,” he maintained.
“If we fall short on any one of those lines and we’re back in Conference North, then we’ll start next season with those same goals in place.
“If we’re fortunate to get promoted and go up to the Conference then our goal will be the same.”
City’s rise to the edge of the play-offs has been remarkable, coming on the back of a poor campaign in which they avoided relegation only because of the resignation of Vauxhall Motors.
Guerriero has been pleased with the transformation he has witnessed.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of Oxford City,” he said.
“We see the city really rallying around us, we see the city is excited about the quality of play.
“The quality of football, compared to the years before I got involved, is obviously dramatically different and we’re proud of the product.
“But we’ll be a lot more proud if the result matches that, so obviously we’re hoping that we’ll finish strong and squeeze out that play-off spot.”
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