ALTRINCHAM'S hopes of building on a triumphant two years under Phil Parkinson have been given a massive boost after he committed his future to the club for the next three years.

In a major coup, just a week after their National League North play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Chorley, Alty boss Parkinson and his assistant Neil Sorvel both signed new three-year contracts in the boardroom at The J.Davidson Stadium on Sunday morning.

Appointed two seasons ago after a successful stint at Nantwich Town, Parkinson responded to his new deal by setting his sights on establishing Alty in the National League top flight after winning the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League title at the first attempt and reaching the play-offs earlier this month.

"We came so close to a second successive promotion in this our first season back in the Vanarama National League North, and we are hungry to go one better this time round," he said.

"But we want to go one step further and establish ourselves in the national division over the course of this contract.

"The board have shown their ambition and we will work together on and off the field to keep moving this club forward."

Chairman Grahame Rowley said: "The next 12 months are perhaps the most important in the club’s history.

"We have shown that we can be a big team at this level, and we have major plans to deliver changes that will ensure we are ready for the national division when the time comes."

Reflecting on a travelling support in excess of 1,200 at Chorley, who clinched promotion in Sunday's play-off final with a penalty shoot-out win against Spennymoor Town, Parkinson urged Alty fans to keep turning up in numbers next season, saying: "Every week, the support, home and away, just got better and better.

"The fans have shown their faith in this team, ending with that fantastic turnout at Chorley.

"Get behind us like that next season, and we will be unstoppable."