Lambert is confident Scunthorpe are set for a good year

LAST year they were the nearly men, this season Simon Lambert wants Scunthorpe Scorpions to be the likely lads.

Lambert and his team-mates came desperately close to winning the club's first Premier League silverware in 2009.

The finals of the Premier Trophy, Knock-out Cup and Young Shield were all within tantalising reach, but the team were knocked out at the final four stage of each one.

Although desperately disappointing at the time, that experience will be invaluable when it comes to going one step further according to Lambert.

"Scunthorpe are going forward in the sport and it's going to be a good year," he predicted.

"On paper we have got a very, very good team.

"We're more than capable of winning silverware this year and have got league-winning potential.

"It was just one of those years last year. We were the nearly team. It's all ifs and buts now.

"You know you're nearly there, but that's worse because we were so close."

The Scorpions reserve hopes that won't be a problem this time around, with the club's ambitions further boosted by the arrival of Joel Parsons, the only new addition over the winter, as well as a full campaign under the helm of Richard Hollingsworth.

The death of Kenny Smith meant Hollingsworth stepped into the managerial role in difficult circumstances last summer.

But since being handed the task and impressing on a permanent basis, Lambert is confident the boss can steer Scunthorpe to glory.

"We've got a new member of the team in Joel, who's a good lad, and we've also got a new man in Richard (Hollingsworth) now that's all official," he explained.

"He's been in close contact with all the riders over the winter.

"He's very good. The main thing is he's dedicated.

"I've never met anyone as dedicated as him. He's very clued up on the rule book as well.

"He's always there to talk to if you're on a bit of a downer. He'll give you a ring or you know you can ring him."