King's Lynn Town's rapid progress up the non-league ladder may have stalled – but Gary Setchell believes his men will be better for the experience.

The reformed Linnets, who rose from the ashes of the 'old' Lynn in the summer of 2010, enjoyed back-to-back promotions from 2012 to move up to the Evo-Stik Premier Division and even briefly flirted with the play-off places earlier this term. However, The Walks club fell away and finished a respectable 11th, leaving Setchell to reflect on a campaign where his men have learnt plenty about life at Step Three of the semi-professional pyramid.

Lynn's boss said: 'This year we were tipped for mid-table at best. But there was a time for probably 30 weeks we were in amongst it. We have had some great wins, we have had some poor losses, but in reflection we are where we should be. The league table doesn't lie.

'It's been a long season. But I've said to the lads, the one's who have certainly been in here the last three or four years, and last year, well almost two years; 'in the three years we've probably learned more this season than what we have in the previous three, because we had it our own way. We've come up against some good teams, some good players, some good coaches, we've had to put up with the long travelling and to get 68 points I think is very, very creditable.'

Lynn's campaign ended with a narrow 1-0 defeat at third-placed AFC Fylde – a result and performance that the club's manager feels shows the undoubted potential in his young and developing squad.

'Fylde are one of the top three sides in the league and I think they'll probably go and win the play-offs,' Setchell also told the club's official YouTube channel.

'If I get it right in the summer, even if the budget stays the same, there's enough to manoeuvre. If we can find a couple more (players) there's no reason we can't do what Ashton (United, fifth) have done and sneak in the play-offs. I'll certainly be looking to progress. I want to keep moving this football club forward the best I can.'