By Mark Orlovac

Grayson wants his side to build on last season's sixth place finish

Northampton head coach Paul Grayson believes his side do not deserve the tag of Premiership underachievers.

Grayson is frustrated that the desperate battle against relegation in 2005 overshadows an impressive record in the Premiership since 1999.

"The last two years are not representative of how Northampton are as a club," Grayson said.

"It is our aim to get back to where we were and maybe push on and take those final steps."

Northampton finished in the top five of the Premiership between 1999 and 2004 as well as winning the Heineken Cup in 2000 and reaching three Powergen Cup/Tetley's Bitter Cup finals in the last seven seasons.

But Saints had a dreadful campaign in 2004/2005 and Grayson and rugby director Budge Pountney took over after Alan Solomons was dismissed following a run of eight straight defeats.

And they only stayed in the Premiership after basement club Harlequins lost on the final day to Sale.

Christian Short is one of the summer signings at Franklin's Gardens

In their first full season in charge last year, Pountney and Grayson steadied the ship after a poor start and steered the club to sixth in the table.

"Two years ago was not great for anybody," Grayson added. "That hurt the club's reputation quite badly.

"It's disappointing that the perception of us is of a team that has perennially struggled, which we haven't."

Saints take on Newcastle on Sunday in their first game of the new Premiership season and Grayson is confident his side can continue the improvement he saw last year.

"We are a work in progress," he said. "If we can take another step then we will be at the right end of the table.

"We are under no illusions that it is going to happen tomorrow but for the first time we have been able to make minimal changes to our squad which are changes through choice as apposed to enforced change.

"Stability is key. Any team that have had continued success have been stable for long periods."