London City has had a season to forget.

The team was in the thick of the playoff hunt for most of the season in the Canadian Soccer League until a few poor results near the end of the season put them outside of contention.

Heading into the season with new owners, coaches, players and mentality, it was considered a fresh start with positive results coming their way.

Instead, the franchise's playoff drought increased to a dozen years.

Head coach (at the time) Stanislav Zvezdic's departure came in the middle of the season, after he brought almost an entire new lineup onto the team from places like his native country Serbia and other European countries.

"At this point I think everyone is uncertain about who is coming back," said Katherine Keating, director of operations/marketing at London City Soccer Club. "Our foreign players are heading home in a week or so. They have wives and children that have been missing them."

Not only that, but Zvezdic had a history in Serbian football, which led him to attracting these players to the club from so far away. Many of the players could not see fit to return, as they are not on a stable contract.

According to Keating, the team will be in pursuit of younger players to join the fold next season.

"But be assured there will be many tryouts before next season begins and much more notice to players than there was this season. (We're) looking for younger and more experienced players. We plan to bring in some heavy hitters and focus on development." Keating added.

Not only are they planning monthly tryouts, but they also plan to continue on their rigorous training routine. The club is the only one in the Canadian Soccer League to train five nights a week, allowing some of the younger players a chance to develop this season.

And frankly, the monthly tryout option is certainly a good one if they can pull it off. Keating said they have had interest from players all across the country. Scouting isn't something a team at this level can do easily, so to counter, they are expanding their knowledge by letting players come to them.

It certainly seems like they are on the right track, but we did hear something very similar to this last season. Twelve years without any playoffs really shows a desperate club that needs to improve.

However, one thing that did improve was attendance. City reported that attendance went up 400 per cent all across the board, and the home opener drew 1,150 per cent more than last year.

Next season will also be the 40th anniversary of the club's founding in 1973.

Make what you will of this season, but City is certainly promising big things for the next.