SHAUN Harrad believes he would have netted 25 goals for Cheltenham Town if he had been given more game-time.
The striker finished his season-long loan spell from Bury with ten goals, topping the Robins' scoring charts.
He struck five times in his first seven League Two starts, but he started only six games after the turn of the year and sat on the bench for the final 17 games of a campaign during which goals were hard to come by for Mark Yates' team.
While keen to stress that he enjoyed his Cheltenham experience as a whole, 28-year-old Harrad admitted the final months were hugely frustrating.
"I came to Cheltenham to play and the gaffer gave me that at the start of the season and I repaid him with goals and he got the best out of me," Harrad said.
"But it was upsetting and frustrating not to be given as many games as I would have liked later on in the season.
"I met a lot of great people and I don't have a bad word to say about the club, but I'll always think that if I'd played more games I could have reached my personal target of 25 and fired us to promotion."
The highlights for Harrad include goals in his first three starts for the Robins, against Dagenham, Torquay and Aldershot, as well as a long-range cracker in the 2-1 home win over Oxford United on September 18.
"I was so confident at that time having got off to a flying start and that goal against Oxford is up there with the best of my career," Harrad said.
"It was probably also the best form I'd been in since leaving Burton (to join Northampton in January 2011) and I was getting the minutes on the pitch and thoroughly enjoying it.
"I then had a little niggle which put me back a week and some of that sharpness was lost and from then on I didn't play as much as I'd have liked.
"But I think my goal record speaks for itself and whenever I've played regularly I've scored around one in two, which is what strikers are always aiming for."
Harrad is now due to report back for pre-season training with Bury, who suffered relegation from League One and will be among the teams facing Cheltenham next term.
The Gigg Lane club are in severe financial trouble and despite having another year on his contract there, Harrad may well be off-loaded in a bid to cut back on expenditure.
He admitted a return to Cheltenham was unlikely and all he is concentrating on is finding regular football next season.
"I fully respect the gaffer's decisions and he brought in quality players in January who were given preference over me," Harrad said.
"Benno (Paul Benson) has a proven scoring record at a higher level and the formation we were using meant I realised I wasn't going to be playing much.
"I scored two goals in three games, but the last of those was the Dagenham match (February 9), when we lost and did not play well as a team, I was left out of the side and didn't start after that.
"I am not sure what's happening at Bury because I've only really spoken to one or two of the lads there, but as it stands I'll be reporting back for training with them."
Yates thanked Harrad and the other departing loan players for their efforts after the play-off semi-final defeat by Northampton.
He had gone on as a substitute in the second leg, but was unable to help Cheltenham break through Northampton's stubborn backline.
The crowd were calling for him long before his 62nd minute introduction, a gesture which was greatly appreciated.
"I had a lump in my throat after the game because it was a nice touch from the fans," Harrad said.
"They were singing my name and it made me want to be out there even more.
"In the end it wasn't to be for us and I think Northampton just about deserved it over the two legs – good luck to them in the final against Bradford.
"I gave my all for Cheltenham and I would like to thanks the fans, the gaffer and the staff and all the lads.
"They have worked wonders at that club, to be in the play-offs twice and to have two FA Cup runs to play Premier League teams is testament to all the good work being done there.
"I'll certainly be keeping in touch with as many of the lads as possible and I've made some good friends during my season at Cheltenham."
