Cheltenham Town manager Martin Allen says he is looking to the future after accepting his team will not gather enough points to avoid relegation this season.

The Robins led 1-0 at Walsall on Saturday, but for the third match in succession they were pinned back and had to settle for a draw, which has left them 11 points from safety with only seven matches remaining.

"We are not going to get enough points to stay up, let's be black and white about it, but watching these young boys play gives me pleasure and I am certainly seeing some encouraging signs for the future," Allen said.

"A lot of credit has to go to Ken Oram, John Brough and Bob Bloomer for developing these young boys and I am looking forward to the future and I have a vision.

"I have had a lot of hard work to do to change it around here, but I don't just think about the next game, I have plan for further ahead and how we can achieve it within our budget.

"It's a challenge, but it's exciting and I am looking forward to next season."

Allen has not yet been given his budget for next term, but he confirmed that he will be trying to keep Frankie Artus at Cheltenham.

The Bristol City loan midfielder scored his second goal in two appearances for the Robins at Walsall and has been influential in both matches.

"We'll try and keep him," Allen said. "I don't call him Frankie, I call him Arthur, but he is great at the training ground with good spirit and he listens, learns and wants to improve.

"That is the type of player we want to get, so maybe we can work something out with Bristol City and keep him, but they might want to re-sign him as he's a good player.

"The goal was one of the best you'll see and the technique to score that was awesome. He's only 20, but he has been terrific since he has been here."

Allen said he was "very proud" of his players as they extended their unbeaten run to five games at the Banks's Stadium.

"We have come away with a load of kids and loans and we tried to play good football," he said.

"They have been through a lot emotionally, it's not very nice being bottom of the league.

"When the going got tough, these boys have stepped up to the plate, showing great character and spirit, and you see the true character of someone when the going gets tough. They have stood up and I am very proud of them."