CHORLEY manager Ken Wright has backed the new play-off system for the UniBond League -- even though he doesn't agree with it!

The Magpies chief doesn't think the 'lottery' of the play-offs is fair on the teams that finish at the top of the pile, who often have to battle it out against teams who finished the season several points worse off.

But he thinks the system -- which will be introduced to the UniBond League between the First and Premier Division next season -- is a step forward.

"I have got to say that my thoughts on the play off system when it was first introduced were that it was unfair and I still think that," he said.

"If there is a team that finishes 12 points in front of another it is unfair if that team loses out on promotion because of the play-offs.

"I think it makes a little bit of a mockery of the league system but play-offs have been good for football.

"They have kept the interest levels high, keeping around 10 or 12 clubs involved rather than them having their system finish half way through.

"From that point of view it is progress to introduce them at our level but I think most football people would say the same as me that they are a bit unfair."

From next season the club that finishes third-from-bottom in the Premier Division will play off against the clubs that finish third, fourth and fifth in the First Division. "Play-offs are good from a commercial sense, it keeps crowds coming in until the end of the season and that can only be good for the game," said Wright.

"I'm not knocking that and you have to accept the way things are at the start of the season.

"If Chorley get promoted via the play-offs next year I certainly won't be complaining!"

The Victory Park club finished ninth in the UniBond First Division last season -- which wouldn't have put them in a play-off place -- and Wright hopes to see an improvement in this campaign.

"We under achieved last season," he said. "With the squad of players we had we should have done better but we were seriously affected by a glut of injuries during the season and we found that difficult to cope with.

"And the injuries weren't spread out among the team. They were either all our defenders or all our midfielders.

"But we will be looking to knock on the door this season. With the introduction of two or three new players we will improve the squad and go all the way."

The only summer signing so far has been that of Andy Mason from Leigh RMI, the striker who scored two goals in four games on loan at the club last season.

The 25-year-old started his career as a junior at Bolton and has played for Hull, Macclesfield and Boston.

"He has a record of being able to score goals," said Wright.