THE past 12 months have been a success for Worcester Wolves and we have created a platform to build on in 2012.

I think we have made great strides in moving forward to where we want to be as a club.

We want to be challenging in the British Basketball League and be competitive in games – I believe we are doing that.

The team have been exceptional on the road this term and beaten sides like Plymouth, Newcastle and Glasgow on their own courts.

I feel we are in great shape and hopefully our fine home form, excluding Wednesday’s 99-75 defeat to Leicester Riders, will continue as well.

Realistically, we are looking for a top four or five finish.

Getting all the players to gel and buy into my philosophy was going to be tough but they have done that and developed a mental toughness.

During the summer, I wanted to re-sign a couple of players from last season’s team but they were holding our for too long and I was looking at other players.

I came across Richie Gordon and Tommy Freeman and they seemed to be two hard-working players who would suit my style of play.

We snapped them up pretty quickly and they have been the catalyst to what we are doing.

There have been hiccups along the way but hopefully we will continue to improve.

We have played a lot more games than some teams but have got the points on the board.

Although we have lost three games, the teams below us still have to play their matches and win them.

It’s been really busy up to this point but you don’t mind that when you are winning more than you’re losing.

However, we do need a break because we have been going pretty solidly since September. Everyone will get seven days off after last night’s game at Milton Keynes Lions – some of the guys will go home to recharge their batteries and come back ready for a tough second-half of the season.

We have a tough run of games at the start of the new year and have to visit Mersey Tigers on Friday, January 13, without Tommy because he is banned for one match.

I am still not convinced about the two unsportsmanlike fouls he was ejected for against Leicester Riders on Wednesday.

It was a rookie referee in charge and a more senior official might not have given them.

However, if we are going to play a game without him, we would choose Mersey Tigers so it’s not as bad as it might have been.

He will leave a huge hole to fill but it gives people like David Watts the chance to step up and show us what he can do.