Garstang manager is trying to put plans in place at the Riverside

Alan Coar had been Garstang's top scorer before the season was halted

The global coronavirus pandemic had seen the North West Counties Football League call a halt to matches last month.

As it transpired, the season was terminated last week with the Riversiders still having nine games left in their First Division North campaign.

Nevertheless, while Cookney tried to ensure Garstang’s survival in the 2019/20 season, he also had an eye on the following campaign.

Speaking before the decision to cancel, he said: “In terms of football, one of the biggest frustrations for me is that I like to pre-plan for the next season.

“At this time of year I’m usually looking forward to that in terms of planning the pre-season over the summer and talking to players.”

Despite a lack of promotion or relegation, the NWCFL has said it will honour this season’s league tables.

The Riversiders had found themelves 16th in the table when their matches were suspended.

That was an improvement on the situation Cookney inherited at the end of August.

A difficult start under his predecessor, Andy Payton, saw Garstang at the wrong end of the table after five defeats in their first six matches.

Cookney’s arrival brought a squad overhaul but, even then, results were still up and down.

However, wins over Ashton Town and Daisy Hill at the start of March had pulled the Riversiders clear of the bottom two.

“One of the things we’re looking at is the points per game ratio,” Cookney said.

“If the average is done that way, we still finish 16th, so to do that after being bottom when we took over would be a fantastic achievement.”