Stoke City chairman Peter Coates insists staying up is still the target despite finishing an impressive 12th in their maiden Premier League campaign.
He told BBC Radio Stoke: "We finished in a very good position last season.
"We set a high bar for our first season in the top flight, and of course we want to do better.
"But if we finished a couple of places lower, we wouldn't be too disappointed. It's a tough division and we need to stay up because we need to build."
The Potters were in a relegation battle for much of their first season back in the top flight for 23 years, but a good late run of results pulled them out of trouble and into the relative safety of mid-table.
Manager Tony Pulis is hopeful of making a couple of signings before the players return for pre-season, and Coates has conceded that changes are needed to ensure the club continue to move forward on the pitch.
"We want a strong squad going into the new season so that we can do ourselves justice," said Coates. "We want to progress the club."
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