The outlook is good for title-winning Walsall Wood

The Wood – who are managed by former Walsall striker Gary Birch – became champions at the weekend, after beating Racing Club Warwick 4-3.

It was at a temporary home – Chasetown’s Scholars Ground – as Oak Park was hosting a big St George’s Day event.

On securing promotion back to the Premier Division at the first attempt, Hodgin said: “Getting across the line is always difficult.

“The lads put in a good performance, on a bit of a difficult pitch at Chasetown, against a good team to get the job done.

“Getting 67 points out of the last 69 is fantastic and proves that we’re deserved winners of the league.”

Having appointed Birch in the summer and brought in the likes of former Walsall winger Peter Till, Chasetown legend Chris Slater and ex-Stafford Rangers midfielder Mitch Tolley, many expected Wood to do well.

Hodgin insists the squad was put together with a long-term vision.

“The squad Gary has put together wasn’t just put together for this year, just to get out of this league,” he said. “We always felt that this squad was capable of sticking together for a few years and competing at the next level.

“It is a project here, on and off the pitch. We’re thinking about the next three to five years, getting more of a community feel.

“There’s more people involved with the club now, 35 kids teams all of a sudden.

“There’s definitely more of that community feel – the attendances are higher than we’ve ever known them, winning a lot of games helps that. Things are good.

“There was high expectation, from the outside, with the manager and players that we brought in.

“There are some very good teams in this league, though – Ilkeston, Leicester Road – so it has been far from a walk in the park.

“I honestly believe the top six or seven of this league would be able to stay above water in the league above.”

Going back into the Premier, Hodgin – nor anybody else at the club – would be content with merely surviving in the division.

The aim is to carry on in a similar vein to this term and challenge for more silverware.

“That’s got to be the aim, we want to keep moving forward,” added Hodgin.

“We’ll want to be challenging for the title next year, without a shadow of a doubt.

“I don’t think the players or the manager here are willing to just go and settle for survival. They’re a bunch of winners.”

Also in the division, Brocton have reached 40 points following a 1-0 win at Littleton, Ryan Burns the hero with his long-range effort securing victory.

They are now 16th in the table, with two games to go.

In the Premier, AFC Wulfrunians ran out 3-1 winners at Shawbury United. Dom Moan struck twice for Steve Palmer’s side, after Jumaane Meggoe’s header.