THE Press Player of the Year Kyle Letheren has admitted there were a number of worthy candidates for the award last season.

Letheren finished six points clear of nearest rivals Jon Parkin and Alex Whittle – two of his team-mates that the ex-Dundee and Blackpool keeper believes could have taken the honours as well.

The 29-year-old net-minder said: “There were lots of contenders. Alex Whittle’s performances were consistent throughout, as were those of Sean Newton, Jon Parkin and Vadaine Oliver when they came into the club, so any one of those could have won it as well.”

Letheren went on to add that he was pleased to receive The Press trophy, which is decided after calculating the number of points awarded from every fixture during the season, but reasoned that he would rather the team had met their goal of preserving National League status.

On his mixed emotions, the Welshman explained: “I felt I was in a good position and I was flying at one stage of the season. Injuries then hindered me a bit, but I was so far ahead in the competition, after the first three-quarters of the season, that I couldn’t be caught, even though a few got close towards the end.

“It’s always good to get a bit of recognition at the end of the season for your performances, although I would have swapped that for the club staying in the league.”

Sixteen-goal top-scorer Parkin, meanwhile, also finished top of the assists table after teeing up ten team-mates, which placed him three ahead of second-placed Aidan Connolly.

Shaun Rooney was shown the most cards during the season, picking up 11 cautions – two more than striker Richard Brodie, who last played for the club in October.

The final Press Player of the Month award for April went to Parkin as well.

It was his second monthly accolade of the campaign with Sean Newton scooping three in November, January and February.

The other prizes during the season went to Brodie (August), Whittle and Kaine Felix (joint September winners), Letheren (October), and Oliver (March).

The Press Player of the Year final standings: Letheren 34, Parkin 28, Whittle 28, Newton 23, Heslop 22, Connolly 17, Oliver 16, Parslow 16, Brodie 12, Klukowski 12, Morgan-Smith 12, Loach 11, Bencherif 10, Kamdjo 10, Flinders 8, Fry 8, Holmes 8, Lappin 8, Higgins 7, Rooney 7, Felix 5, Galbraith 5, Racine 4, Murphy 3, Clappison 2, Dixon 2, Muggleton 2, Moke 2, Wright 2, Cooper 1, Nti 1, Oyebanjo 1, Rzonca 1, Simpson 1, Walton 1.

The Press Player of the Month final standings for April: Parkin 13, Loach 10, Newton 7, Holmes 5, Morgan-Smith 5, Moke 4, Oliver 4, Whittle 3, Bencherif 2, Muggleton 2, Heslop 1.

Goals: Parkin 16, Oliver 10, Brodie 7, Morgan-Smith 6, Connolly 5, Heslop 5, Fenwick 3, Klukowski 3, Newton 3, Fry 2, Own Goals 2, Galbraith 1, Hall 1, Holmes 1, Kamdjo 1, Lappin 1, Murphy 1, Nti 1, Racine 1, Rooney 1, Rzonca 1, Wright 1.

Assists: Parkin 10, Connolly 7, Morgan-Smith 6, Newton 6, Oliver 5, Rooney 4, Heslop 3, Holmes 3, Klukowski 3, Bencherif 2, Felix 2, Galbraith 2, Hall 2, Moke 2, Muggleton 2, Parslow 2, Whittle 2, Wright 2, Cooper 1, Fenwick 1, Fry 1, Higgins 1, Murphy 1, Racine 1.

Bad boys: Rooney 11 yellow cards; Brodie nine yellow; Heslop one red, seven yellow; Newton seven yellow; Fenwick, Oliver both six yellow; Parkin one red, four yellow; Higgins, Morgan-Smith both five yellow; Fry, Whittle both four yellow; Holmes, Nti both one red, two yellow; Bencherif, Klukowski, Wright all three yellow; Connolly, Hall, Kamdjo, Muggleton all two yellow; Moke one red; Clappison, Dixon, Galbraith, Johnson, Lappin, Letheren, McDaid, Murphy, Parslow, Racine, Thompson all one yellow.