DAVE Ferris hopes the loss of star striker Mark Robinson will not hinder Chippenham Park’s chances this term.

Robinson has plundered 49 goals for Park in their two seasons in the Toolstation League but has been snapped up by Premier Division side Bradford Town for 2015-16.

Boss Ferris concedes that those goals will be hard to replace but says that has not stopped him aiming as high as possible this season and looking to improve on last year’s 11th-placed finish.

“We are looking forward to the season but it is with a degree of trepidation,” said Ferris.

“We have been trying to build but we have lost a few players and Mark has gone to Bradford and will be taking his goals with him.

“That will be the hardest loss we will feel and it’s going to be a challenge losing the best part of 50 goals over the past two seasons.

“We are looking to try to replace that but in pre-season we have struggled to score goals.

“A decent striker in any league is very hard to come by but we are not prepared to throw money at a player. We have a set philosophy that people at this level should be playing for their club for the enjoyment of it.

“Mark Nolan has come back and he got something like 26 goals when we were in the County League so hopefully he can make a bit of an impact.

“Every team in the league has to be looking at being at the top of the table come the end of the season. If you aim to finish second that’s all you will ever be.”

Park open the campaign at home to Portishead Town, who finished second from bottom in 2014-15.

However, they collected 17 of the final available 21 points last season and Ferris thinks they will be amongst the front-runners this term.

Ferris said: “From what I have heard they have strengthened over the summer and if they have strengthened from how they finished last season they could be one of the dark horses.”