Hebburn manager Scott Oliver is delighted that last season’s top scorer Channon North has agreed to stay at the club.

North was the leading scorer in the second division but he has turned down overtures from other clubs in order to stay with Hebburn, for whom he scored 40 goals in the league last season.

“We’re delighted that we’ve managed to hold on to him, even though there was a lot of interest in him,” said Oliver, who has suffered two blows, as striker Lee McMahon has gone to South Shields, and defender Ally Downey will be out for four months.

“Channon had never had a season like it in his life, let’s hope he can reproduce that form in the new season. We resurrected him as a goalscorer, we stuck with him, and he’s come good.

“It’s going to be a very tough league this season. South Shields are going to be the favourites, then there’s Billingham Synthonia, Team Northumbria, Ryhope CW, Heaton Stannington, Thornaby and Northallerton. I think we’ll be able to compete with them, and I think 81 points should be enough to win promotion.

“Our players ran the course last season, and just failed to go up. They know what’s required now to win promotion.”