Torquay United manager Paul Buckle is confident his side will successfully make the step up to League Two football next season.

The Gulls begin life back in the Football League with a home game against Chesterfield on 8 August.

Buckle told BBC Spotlight: "There's some very good teams but nothing we should be afraid of.

"You're always keen to see who you're going to play but ultimately it's going to be about us on the day."

He added: "The first game is always very exciting with a great anticipation of who you're going to kick off against.

"We'll focus solely on the Chesterfield game because it's how I like to do things in my mind so we'll try to go and pick three points."

We want to keep Chris Robertson at the club and I'm hoping that he'll agree to stay Torquay boss Paul Buckle

Buckle took Torquay back into the Football League following a two year absence in May, winning the Blue Square Premier play-off final 2-0 over Cambridge United at Wembley.

The Torquay boss is keen to give his promotion winning squad a chance at a higher level.

He said: "The majority of players that were here last year will be back again because they've earned the right to play in League Two.

"It's something to look forward to and we'll come back motivated but at the same time we'll need to be better because we're in League Two."

One of the key players returning for the Gulls next season is captain Chris Hargreaves, who scored the opening goal in Torquay's Wembley triumph.

Buckle spoke highly of the 37-year-old midfielder, saying he is keen to support a potential move into coaching.

"Chris is a good person for the club and he's been a great captain for me," Buckle said.

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"I don't know when he's going to stop running and there's certainly no indication that's going to happen just yet after what he did at Wembley.

"If Chris isn't playing for us for whatever reason, I'll be encouraging him to give me his thoughts on the coaching side as well," Buckle added.

A question mark remains over the future of 23-year-old defender Chris Robertson who is yet to sign a new contract with the Gulls.

Robertson has been a source of interest for other clubs throughout the close season, but Buckle sees him as a key component of his squad.

"We want to keep Chris at the club and I'm hoping that he'll agree to stay," Buckle said.

"By the sound of his voice it sounds like he wants to stay but it's his option and we don't want to keep anyone who wants to move on."

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