OPTIMISM is buzzing around the office at Holker Street, and Barrow AFC managing director Andrew Casson hopes it is infectious.

The Bluebirds chief, who will have been at the club for two years at the end of this month, is entirely positive heading into the new National League season under Ian Evatt.

Casson has been impressed with what he has seen from the new manager since his arrival in June – with systems and plans put in place in that time already seeming like they well-established.

Compare that with 12 months ago, when the optimism of the seventh-placed finish from the season before quickly gave way to general disillusionment.

Manager Paul Cox seemed unhappy to still be with the club, recruitment stalled and any momentum from the previous campaign evaporated – turning the chance to build on something good into a season which ended with relegation only avoided on the final day thanks to results elsewhere.

Micky Moore and Ady Pennock have come and gone as manager in the interim, with Evatt now bringing in an almost-entirely new squad for this season, with only four players who were involved in 2017/18 still on the books.

But while there have been mass changes, Casson is in upbeat mood, can see only optimism about what lies ahead under Evatt, and is relishing the prospect of seeing what the new team can do on the field when the season gets under way.

“I feel really, really good about it,” he said as the Bluebirds prepare for their opening match of the campaign at home to Havant and Waterlooville tomorrow (3pm kick-off). “Everything from Ian's appointment to the general response to the changes we announced in terms of budget and how we were going to move things forward, and our expectations, has all been really good.

“Everything has that right feel about it from my perspective. Far be it for me to be the expert on it, but as I sit here today, it almost feels like so much has happened and has been in place for the last three or four weeks, that it is has been set and is working; we know the direction we are going in.”

He added: “The biggest difference (compare to last year) is with the expectation and the enjoyment from our own perspective in terms of coming in every day, working with Ian, seeing the team and seeing the players, and the attitude and energy they bring.

“Last summer, when Paul was not too pleased to be here, we had a weird environment where we were going into the season and we weren't really excited about it.

“The whole environment and the attitude around the place now is so different; not because we think we are going to be gang-busters in the league or anything like that, but because we believe we have the right manager, we believe we have the right types of players, we believe we're going in the right direction.

“With good support and a bit of luck, who knows where we can go from here?”

Few Bluebirds fans would be expecting the team to be repeating their efforts of two seasons ago, when they were firmly ensconced in the play-off places for a long time before eventually fading away in the latter stages of the campaign.

But what they will be looking for – and have already seen in pre-season matches – is some attacking, attractive football, a big difference to much of the fare that has been served up in recent years.

Casson also expects that the team will put in full commitment – something again questioned at times last season – and sees those factors as a big way of getting supporters back in and behind the club.

“Ian has said it a few times, and I completely agree, that entertaining football can cover a multitude of sins,” said Casson. “When you look at two seasons ago, we were getting good results and we finished well in the table, but a lot of the feedback was that the fans didn't really enjoy it, because it was route-one, and that's not really what they wanted to see.

“Expectations were raised for last year, the football was a lot the same, and when those expectations aren't met early doors, people will turn on you quickly.

“It's a combination of two things this year. Yes, expectations aren't quite as high, both on the back of last season and also based on what we have said about our expectation levels. Now, though, there is a style of football that Ian is trying to play and has the team playing, as has been demonstrated in pre-season.

“I think that, along with the passion and the effort the players are willing to put in as well, will help. We can't predict results, but I think supporters are starting to believe that they will come away from the stadium saying 'I saw 11, 12, 14 players playing good football, putting it on the line, and giving it their best effort'.”