CHRIS Read today insisted Notts will come back stronger next season after missing out on a possible one and four-day double.

The skipper was left hugely disappointed as his side were beaten at Trent Bridge by Hampshire, while the north-easterners won at Kent.

Those results knocked Notts off top spot and handed the Riverside club their first Division One triumph.

It comes just two weeks after the Outlaws were beaten off the last ball in the Pro40 League decider against Sussex Sharks.

But wicket-keeper Read believes the side have the character to bounce back and clinch some silverware in 2009.

"You can't take away the fact we had a massive opportunity to win the Pro40 and a big opportunity to win the County Championship," he said.

"Opportunities to win trophies don't come around too often, but it was not to be.

"We have had a sniff of what we can achieve and hopefully we can go one better next year.

"I think we have had the best attack here in my 11 seasons here, but conversely we battled a lot better in 2005."

Read acknowledges that it is performances with the bat that Notts have ultimately cost Notts dearly.

But he feels the criticism of the top order has been a little harsh in another wet summer.

Read said: "We had players who regularly scored 1,000 runs and we need to get back to scoring four, five or 600 and then bowling teams out twice.

"There are improvements to be made in the batting, that is fair to say. But batting all round the country has been hard – it has not been a great time for batsmen.

"We have not done as bad on paper as some have and our bonus points show we have not been as bad as some make out.

"But I believe our bowling attack has been strong and they have done a very good job all year."

It has not escaped Read's attention that Notts have performed poorly on home soil, losing to Kent, Sussex and Hampshire in the Championship.

Conversely, they have not lost on the road and picked up most of their victories on their travels.

"It has definitely not been a fortress. All three of the Championship games we have lost this season have been at Trent Bridge," said Read.

"That is something we need to turn around and work on with all the staff because we have to make it difficult for teams to come and win here."

Read is keen to continue as skipper after admitting he has learned a lot on his first year in the job.

He said: "I have really enjoyed the captaincy side of things. I feel my form has gone pretty well, although maybe not quite as good as on previous years.

"But it is challenge. I would love to continue doing it."