Jimmy Cooper reckons continuity will be the key as his Metropolitan Police side gun for Ryman Division One South promotion this season.

The Blues have become the perennial nearly-men in the division, missing out in the play-offs four of the past five seasons.

But Cooper insists this year will be totally different.

He said: “Continuity is a major plus for us this season.

“I have been trying to put together a settled side for the last four or five years but have never been able to do it.

“Players have always wanted to move on to clubs at a higher level, but that is not the case this year.

“I am running with a squad of 20 players for this season, and only five of them are new recruits which gives us a massive jump on recent years.”

The Met have produced some encouraging pre-season displays of late, holding both Staines Town (0-0) and Kingstonian (1-1) to draws, Vernon Francis on target against Alan Dowson’s men.

And Cooper has been impressed by the fare put before him.

He added: “We are conceding very few goals which is very pleasing.

“In our first couple of friendlies we gave away some sloppy goals, but that is no longer the case.

“I have been very impressed with how we have defended from front to back and that is a great building block.

“Considering we have been playing two top-quality sides in Staines and Kingstonian the signs are very good.

“We totally dominated against Kingstonian and we were disappointed not to have won the game.

“But it still shows that the squad is very, very strong, that we can compete with anyone and I am confident that we will challenge strongly this season. ”