BRAINTREE Town chairman Lee Harding knows his club have had a successful season - regardless of how it ends up on Sunday.

After their play-off semi-final success at Dartford last weekend, the Iron will be in Vanarama National League South play-off final action at Hampton and Richmond Borough on Sunday.

The winner of that fixture will take their place in the top-flight of English non-league football next year, however, regardless of how the end-of-season spell pans out for his club, Harding knows that the 2017/18 campaign has been a success.

Boss Brad Quinton took over the helm without a player signed on last summer, but the chairman said his manager, the coaching staff and players have gone above and beyond what was expected from them.

So much so, that they are a full two years ahead of what the club's board felt could be achieved when Quinton took over, so Harding is happy however the play-offs pan out.

“We have exceeded expectations this year," said the Iron chairman.

“The target for Brad’s first year was to make sure that the process was turned around after the relegation last year so we could recover from where we were 12 months ago.

“We thought if we could get in the top half (of the table), then brilliant, but we’ve got ourselves in the play-offs.

“It’s been a season of extraordinary highs and lows really.

“We were top in the autumn, had a poor run either side of Christmas but, in my experience, you need to go into the play-offs with confidence and we went in with a run of five wins and a draw.

“Whatever happens in the play-offs, we have achieved what I hoped we would achieve after year three of Brad being in charge.

“That was the target for him – the first year was to stop the decline, second was to consolidate and third was to go for the play-offs.

“So we are two years ahead of where we expected or wanted to be.

“If it continues then great, but whatever happens, we look forward to next season now with renewed enthusiasm.

“There is still a journey to be had and we fear no-one in the division."

The chairman's viewpoint is shared by Quinton and he has been grateful for the support he and his players have received from the club in his first year in charge.

“Whatever happens now, it’s been a successful season," added the Iron boss.

“When we first came here, the chairman said there was no pressure to do anything this season after the last two managers that the club had had and with all the players going.

“He said to just go out there and enjoy it, but in my first interview with him, I said ‘no, I’ll get you in the play-offs’.

“With my beliefs, I have done my job and delivered what I expected.

“He was a bit hesitant and said ‘ok, maybe in a couple of years’ but fair play to him as he has backed me and been tremendous for me.

“He’s done what he could do to look after these boys.

“Players come and go with some people chasing the money; fair play to them but the chairman has always been there for me and backed me.

“We have a squad of 16 players who have picked up the baton and just kept running with it."