TITLE-WINNING boss Steve Claridge confessed he won't be rolling back the years and dusting down his boots now the league is won as "I've got to let go".

The newly-turned 50-year-old masterminded the Sydenhams Wessex Premier crown three weeks prior to the season finishing.

Second half goals from Adam Kelly, Steve Walker and Jamie White secured a 3-0 win over Horndean, on a night when a single point was required to snap up first spot.

The Whites now have six games left, starting with Brockenhurst tomorrow but the ex-Pompey and Leicester City striker, who retired four years ago, says he won't be appearing out on pitch again.

When asked by JournalSport on his plans to play again, he responded "I'm not registered."

"I've got to stop anyway as I've got problems with my stomach.

"It was never going to be a case of me playing. I've got to let go.

"It has been hard enough for me to let go as it is.

"If I'd signed myself on, I'd have played in the Vase game and played here and there.

"I have to rein myself in a bit and give other people the opportunity and I've done that. "And, up to a point, no one has let me down."

Whites are on 92 points and can finish on 110, providing they win their final six matches.

They can also add some silverware to the trophy cabinet, if they can see-off Melksham Town in the Wiltshire Senior Cup final.

"I think everybody, to be a man, has been fantastic," he said.

"I don't think anybody will walk away from this season and think I haven't played my part.

"We've played some wonderful stuff on some dreadful pitches which aren't fit for purpose.

"No matter what anyone says, when you go into a league and there's only one up, there's always pressure."

"I've been pretty relaxed for the last couple of months because I know what I've got.

"We knew we had to get players in and a squad together. Whatever we've done and the injuries we've had, we've got the system right."

Depending on FA's submissions, the Whites will be promoted to Southern League South West One.

If that's the case, they will join the likes of AFC Totton, Winchester City, Wimborne Town, Yate Town and Shortwood United.

And it's a league Claridge is already pondering on.

He added: "Next year, we've got five places we'd settle for.

"This one, we were only ever going to settle for one.

"I've got to be a little bit careful, as said before, because I'm asking everyone to think about the season as a whole and what a wonderful time it has been.

"If I was given this at the start of the season I'd have bit your hand off. But there will always be a part of me that will be thinking about what we missed out on.

"To win seven games in ten days is unbelievable. Some of the football we've played in those games has been staggering.

"I'm still learning about some of them.

"It's finding out about what we've got and who can go to the next level.

"At this stage, I think even if we stayed as we were, we would be a match for most people at the next level."