SELBY Town's new full-time chairman Dave Haddock has been set quite the aim in his first season - to get the Robins promoted.

Haddock took over as the Robins' interim chairman after long-serving clubman Ralph Pearse stepped down in December last year and was voted in on a full-time basis in May.

One of Haddock's aims for his tenure was to make Selby a more democratic club by getting the committee and supporters more involved in decision-making.

During one consultation, fans were asked what changes they most want to see - and back came a resounding call for promotion from Northern Counties East League division one.

Since being relegated from the NCEL premier division at the end of the 2011/12 season, the Robins have remained at the 10th tier of English football.

"The people that support the club have waited a long, long time and we really need to make that push now," Haddock said.

"Everybody says the same about Selby Town: we've got a really good supporter base, a really good management team - almost everything is where it needs to be. The one thing we've been missing is we're not quite fulfilling that potential to achieve promotion.

"That's what we've tasked Christian (Fox, manager) and Jonny (Bruce, assistant) with trying to achieve this season. It's not going to be easy - there are a lot of good teams in our league - but we're giving them all the support we can."

With a nod to the groundwork laid by former chairman and player Pearse, who Haddock believes was involved with the club between 30 and 40 years in all, he continued: "It would be nice for the previous team and do it for the people who aren't necessarily at the club - it's an achievement they're still part of."

This season, Haddock has told Fox that recruitment and the team's playing identity will be entirely the coaches' domain - and thus far, Haddock has plenty of cause for optimism.

Selby have started pre-season with two wins from two, a combined 12 goals netted - including five against NCEL premier division outfit Knaresborough Town - and two hat-tricks scored, by Kain Rogerson and Gracjan Klimczak.

The former scorer represents a core of returning fan-favourites ahead of the 2021/22 season, while the latter - brought in from table-mates Glasshoughton Welfare - is one of a handful of proven star signings.

In addition to promotion, Town fans have also told the chairman they would like to see the club continue its community engagement by bringing in youth teams and opening up the Fairfax Plant Hire Stadium to local sides for charity events.

Selby have responded by creating teams at under-9 and U13 levels, while local women's team Brayton Belles are set to play at Richard Street on August 15 in aid of Cancer Research.

When he took up the chairman's reins at the end of last year, Haddock told The Press he hoped the Selby faithful would not be too apprehensive about his appointment.

But as a familiar face at the club, Haddock seems to have been well received, and there have been tangible changes at the club under his and his committee's leadership.

As well as high-octane entertainment on the pitch, Town fans have also been treated to a refurbished clubhouse (now 'The Final Whistle'), an expanding club shop and a new hospitality suite for sponsors and certain season ticket holders. The work has been "non-stop" says Haddock and is likely to continue right up to the start of the season.

"I think that's had a massive impact on the supporters," Haddock commented of the visible changes.

"Any worries they might have had are understandable because whenever there's a big change in anything, you approach it cautiously.

"But people can see we've got the club's best interests at heart.

"I'm in quite a lucky position because I know quite a few of the supporters from my time at the club. They've really got behind me and the committee.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more."