GEORGE Thomason wants to be the driving force for Wanderers in another promotion push next season.

The club’s young player of the year is already keen to return after success in his first full season in the professional game.

Thomason went from loan football with Bamber Bridge to being a starting midfielder for Ian Evatt and now wants to push on further as the Whites prepare for their return to League One football.

“I just want to build on it next season, hopefully I can kick on, get a good pre-season and play as many games as I can,” he said.

“I want to try and drive this club up another level because I believe we are good enough, our style of play is good enough.

“And I genuinely believe the way the manager speaks about this club can only take us forward and I really want to be a part of that journey.

“I want to contribute as much as I can to that team.”

More than 6,000 season ticket renewals have now been reported by Wanderers – who then open the doors to new applications from Monday morning.

Thomason has picked up on the feelgood factor currently circulating at the UniBol and feels next season could be an exciting time for the club.

“Not just me, but a lot of the lads are already itching to come back because of how we left last season on a high,” he said.

“We have seen the transformation throughout the season of how we played as the winning mentality and culture within the club means everyone wants to come back and play for Bolton Wanderers, and so they should. We are a massive club on the rise.

“People want to watch us, people want to play for us and if we can start driving up that table it will be great.”

Thomason made 25 appearances for Wanderers last season, scoring his first senior goal in a Boxing Day draw at Carlisle United.

His rise to become one of Bolton’s brightest young assets has been a rapid one but the former Blackpool trainee says he is only now getting a chance to sit back and think about it.

“Now that the season has finished it is a good time to reflect on what has happened,” he told the club.

“Personally, the season has been crazy when you compare where I started to where I finished it but I think I took it all in my stride and I’m delighted with how it panned out.

“I think I have come on leaps and bounds. I saw a picture of me about 18 months ago and compared to now I think I am growing in confidence, I think I have developed more as a footballer and as a person with the people around me. Everything has come hand-in-hand and there has been a massive progression from there until now.

“Individual honours are great but the important thing is that the team achieved what it set out to do.”

Thomason also acknowledged the role Ian Evatt and his right-hand-man Peter Atherton have played in his development this season.

“They have been a great help and guidance for me, especially the type of football the manager wants to play, it has really suited my style,” he said. “His assistant is a great coach on the pitch, always getting on to me, telling me bits of detail I need to improve on and each time I try to take those little bits in for the next game, training session to training session. They have created a great culture around the club and a winning mentality, making it a good place to come in and work, so I don’t think it’s just me who has benefitted from them, everyone has.”