IT has been one of the most stressful years of David Phillips’ life chairing Salisbury.

The devoted supporter completed his first full season in charge as chairman in which he has taken on various roles from stewarding to general maintenance in the stadium.

It has even got in the way of his retirement which started in 2009 after a successful 27 years running an insurance brokers’ business.

But he says he has no regrets on helping a football club return to the city.

He explained: “Apart from running your own business as a 100 per cent sole shareholder as the firm I ran, it has been a very difficult year and I was learning on the job.

“I got things wrong, we all got things wrong. There are lots of things we’d do differently.

“We’re where we are and we just had to make the best of it really.

“I cannot say it was the most enjoyable year, it has intruded into my personal life at times.

“There are a few things we didn’t get right but it couldn’t have gone much better.

“Our ambition is to try and get up this year if we can but we just don’t know at the moment, we’ll see.”

Phillips, pictured, who lives in Hale, is continuing to work with fellow directors Graeme Mundy, Ian Ridley, Jeremy Harwood, Steve Claridge (boss) and CEO Amanda Newbery in developing the club.

They have opened a new bar at the club among a number of things.

And, ultimately, he hopes one day he will be watching Whites compete in the Conference.

“The aim to have a sustainable club without relying on people putting in money every year,” he continued.

“That, I think, will find its own level because you can only go so far.

“If we had the potential crowd of Hereford, [the club could have] 1500-1600 season ticket holders.

“We’ve got 100-150 and that makes a big difference to what you can do.

“We’ll take it as far as it is sustainable.”

In April, JournalSport reported that the club was holding talks with Wiltshire Council and Sport England on a potential new community stadium.

Phillips, at the time, said they were exploring a range of possibilities.

However, a site is yet to be identified, and talks are still ongoing with the lease at the Ray Mac expiring in May 2017.

“Nothing has been decided yet,” he continued.

“We either stay or we go, those are the two options. Where it will finish I don’t know. It’s a slow process.

“We’ve been talking to Wiltshire Council and will be talking to the trustees again soon but we’ll progress it and see what we can come up with.”

“It would be nice to have a permanent residence wherever it may be.

“We will have a sit down with them when they get back from holiday and find out exactly where we are going to go.”