Ricky Marheineke has a three-season plan to make St Ives Town promotion contenders.

The ambitious boss reckons a Southern League Division One Central title challenge could be on the cards in the 2016-17 campaign if his long-term vision turns into reality.

St Ives have climbed to within five points of the play-off spots during Marheineke’s first season at the helm, but he remains adamant that survival is the only aim this term as a much-changed squad continues to gel.

Marheineke, pictured, said: “There have been a lot of changes since I came in, but we are now starting to show how good we can be.

“We have brought in young and hungry players, and if we can continue to work hard as a group we should not have any problem staying in the division this season.

“Then we can look to kick on next year, but it is the season after that when we could be in a position to really have a go at being successful. That is the long-term goal.”

St Ives claimed a third successive league victory last Saturday when seeing off bottom side AFC Hayes 3-0 at ProEdge Westwood Road.

Ben Seymour-Shove - one of several summer captures from Marheineke’s former club Huntingdon - bagged two of the goals to storm into double-figures for the season and earn high praise from his manager.

Speaking of the 11-goal attacker, Marheineke added: “Ben started the season well but then had a period where he lost a bit of form and confidence.

“We were on a bad run as a team at the time, but our form has picked up and so have Ben’s performances.

“He has had to work hard on several aspects of his game and is now reaping the rewards of doing that.”