AVELEY manager Justin Gardner has revealed he seriously considered leaving the club last season after a number of clubs spoke to him about his future.

Gardner says he was mulling over his options as continued financial restraints meant Aveley once again battled against the odds to secure a top half finish.

The man who has now spent more than four years at Mill Field says there was interest from a local club and a side at a higher level, but has now said he will stay next season.

It follows the news that the Millers could move into their new ground for the start of the 2017/18 campaign, after the club sold their current home and purchased the land for the new site on the edge of Belhus Park with building work expected to begin in the next four weeks.

And Gardner said the stadium move was a key factor as he made the decision to stay as manager.

“I did consider my future as a few clubs showed interest in me and I have always said I will speak to anyone to hear what they have to say,” he said.

“I had no concrete offers but I spoke to some people in the local area and at a higher level but it never really went anywhere.

“We are working with a relegation budget and I always wanted to do better than that. I am not asking for miracle but I would like a bit more to work with. I work too hard to just get by.

“But the news the new stadium is likely to be ready for the start of the 2017/18 season and that is something to look forward to and I would like to be a part of that. The prospect of moving forward is an exciting one.”

One man the Millers won’t have at their disposal next season is Liam Nash. The on-loan Billericay Town striker is expected to secure a move to a higher division and Gardner said he was thrilled to have played such a key role in his development.

“I am really pleased with what Liam did here,” he said. “He scored plenty of goals and really pushed on after I gave him the captaincy. In all honesty he should have scored more but he changed aspects of his game for the better and he will go on and do well.”

“I have rebuilt squads time and time again and you have to expect that players will move on and try something new. But I am always talking to players and I believe we can push for the play-offs again this year, against the odds.

“We had a really strong second half to the season and to only lose five league games in 2016 was impressive.

“It is a tougher league than ever before with the strength of the sides coming down and those coming up as well. But I want to push on.”