Craig Mahon reckons the Blues will be a completely different proposition in the Conference Premier for the new season.
Mahon was disconsolate after the final game of the season when the fan-owned club appeared to have been relegated.
He was the first to emerge from the dressing room to face the supporters and media, and made it clear he wanted to make amends.
With debt-ridden Hereford United having been banished, the Blues now have a second crack at non-league’s top flight and Mahon has vowed to seize that chance.
He signed a new deal this week and believes an influx of new faces and move towards full-time training means there will no repeat of last season’s struggles.
Mahon said: “It’s going to be a really exciting season for the club and I knew this is where I wanted to be.
“We’ve had a bit of luck with the reprieve and we’ve got to take that and make sure.”
Dublin-born Mahon moved to England aged 17 when he joined Wigan Athletic.
He had a loan spell with Accrington Stanley before being released and dropping into non-league with Vauxhall Motors.
He spent three successful seasons at Rivacre Park and his performances for the Motormen earned him a move to the Swansway Chester Stadium last summer.
Although small in stature, Mahon has bags of courage and no little skill, and the winger hopes to build on some promising performances last season.
Mahon believes being able to spend more time on the training ground will be a big factor in both he and the team being far more competitive.
He plans to continue working for the Wigan Athletic Community Trust and is grateful to the Latics for allowing him to commit to the Blues.
Mahon said: “When I moved over from Ireland, the dream was to play full-time football.
“I had a chat with the gaffer and then I spoke to Wigan and they have been brilliant.
“They have allowed me to fit my work around training and I can’t wait for pre-season to start.
“Last year we were often playing on a Saturday and then again on a Tuesday so we only had a Thursday to work on things for the game.
“Training full-time means you get to spend more time with the squad too, and that helps you gel and that makes you tighter as a team.
“The gaffer will have more time to work on things and prepare us and I’m sure we’ll do much better.”
