After showcasing his talents up front in recent weeks, Kane Richards hopes to be back at Chester FC next season and has thrown his backing behind caretaker manager Jon McCarthy.
Having struggled to nail down a place in the Blues squad under Steve Burr during the season, Richards finished the season in fine style with two goals in the final three games after being handed a striking berth alongside James Alabi.
His performances have drawn plenty of plaudits from Blues fans, many of who have long called for Richards to be played in his favoured position, in attack.
And with Chester having secured National League survival under McCarthy, who was interviewed for the Blues post this week, ex-Ilkeston man Richards believes that the caretaker boss should be handed the role on a full-time basis.
Richards said: “Everyone is behind him, 100%. The last three games say it all, and even in the Lincoln game we were unlucky not to get something.
“Everyone has done their talking on the pitch. We can’t make the decision, obviously, but all we can do is perform on the pitch as we have been doing.
“We got the result against Welling which we needed, went to Grimsby and got a result that not many people expected and we put on a good performance against Gateshead, who are another good team.
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“Macca (McCarthy_ and Sharpy (assistant manager Ian Sharps) couldn’t have done any more and the players couldn’t have done any more.”
Richards arrived at Chester in December 2014 but has found himself on the fringes of the first team for much of his time with the Blues.
The former Derby County trainee spent a period away from the club at the turn of the year at Gainsborough Trinity before returning to the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
The 21-year-old, who netted important goals in the win over Wrexham and the 3-3 draw at Guiseley this season, put his recent purple patch down to a new-found confidence under McCarthy and is hoping he will be given the chance to build on his form next season.
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“I think it is just a case of getting a run of game and Macca has instilled a confidence in me to be honest,” said Richards, who put in a man-of-the-match performance against Gateshead on Saturday.
“I just went out there and played my game and luckily things have gone well.
“Macca put in the work and had us well drilled and everyone has put in the work and knew what they had to do. It just came together over the last three games and it was a great way to end the season.
“I think I can always do more. My dad is my biggest critic but I think next year I can kick on and score a few more goals. I think I can play up front and out wide but I’ll play anywhere.
“We’ll have to see where we are at next season, hopefully I’m here and Macca is here and we’ll have to see what happens.”
