Cheltenham chairman Paul Baker insists Martin Allen's current tenure at the club can only be properly assessed at the end of this season as he marks his one-year anniversary at Whaddon Road.

Having been appointed Robins boss on September 15 2008, Allen endured a nightmare debut campaign with the Gloucestershire outfit which ultimately ended in relegation amid months of money struggles and an ever-changing squad.

But 12 months on and there is an new optimistic feeling around the club as they sit seventh in League Two boasting a healthier all-round financial state.

Baker told the Gloucestershire Echo: "It is unfair to judge Martin on last season because I think at the start of last season the squad was as weak as it had been for a long time. Now we are seeing Martin's own team and it has been a good start to the season.

"He couldn't turn it around last season and maintain our status in League One, but it was always going to be a tough task."

He continued: "Lots of changes needed to be made and it's hard to cope with a lot of changes and distractions at the club. The playing budget has been cut by £10,000 a week, but we are in a far better situation with the changes out of the way and we are in a good position to move forward."