ESSEX Pirates may have lost 36 of their 37 matches this season but their head coach Tim Lewis remains convinced the Southend-based club are facing a bright future.

Lewis feels progress has been made this term, despite the indifferent results.

And he is certain Pirates can turn things around when their next campaign tips-off in September.

“Results-wise it was a disappointing season but we’re two years in to what is a long-term plan,” said Lewis.

“The first two years are always going to be tough and you have to get the building blocks in place but we’ve learnt lessons and will kick on from here.

“Our ambitions remain the same and by 2015 we want to playing in Europe.”

Before then, Pirates are targeting a place in the play-offs next season and Lewis knows what needs to be done to make sure that can happen.

“We need to have more experience around our young British players and that’s something I will make sure we have next year,” said Lewis.

“We were left short when our visa applications for the American guys we were chasing got turned down but there’s a chance they could be here next year.

“Turner King, Mike Mokeski and his brother Bryan may come over and they’re guys who are around 6ft 9ins tall, so they will make a difference.

“But we have some very talented youngsters in our team, with the likes of Myles Hesson, Zach Gachette, Colin Sing and Jamell Anderson and they will all be involved again next year.

“They deserve credit for the way they stuck at things this season and, in hindsight, I probably didn’t do a good enough job of looking after them.”

Lewis will mull over the remainder of his squad in the next few months but he has been buoyed the support his side have received in the town this season.

On three occasions, Pirates were roared on by more than 1,000 fans at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre.

And the crowds have been much higher than in the first season.

“Most of the clubs in the BBL would struggle to get 1,000 fans now, let alone in their second season,” said Lewis.

“That’s a huge positive for us and our last game was watched by around 700 supporters, so the interest is there and we want to keep building on that.”

That backing has also made Pirates’ future secure.

Many of their rivals, including Worthing Thunder, are fighting to stay in existance.

But Lewis claimed Pirates have no such concerns.

“You have to cut your cloth accordingly and that’s what we’ve done,” said Lewis, who has been invited to coach the BBL All Star team at the play-off final at the end of the month.

“We have a restricted budget but there’s no point spending money we don’t have.

“We’re sensible with what we do but we have some high calibre backers on board now in Essex Audi and Gatorade and are working hard to bring more in.

“We have a great product which all members of the family enjoy and even more people will come along next season and that we can be more successful too.”