Dai Young: We only had bad luck last season © Getty Images

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Dai Young is confident his Wasps side can only improve following a traumatic season last term.

After joining the former Premiership and Heineken Cup champions from Cardiff Blues, Young was hit with an "injury list from hell" and financial uncertainties off the pitch as he attempted to overhaul the struggling club.

Wasps had to overcome the retirement of three England players, as well as a number of other injuries, and the threat of bankruptcy at the same time as fighting a relegation battle with Newcastle Falcons.

Wasps ultimately survived in the Premiership and with former player Ken Moss ready to complete his takeover of the club and with a host of new players, including the return of James Haskell, Young is optimistic of a strong season.

"The only luck we had last year was bad luck. I don't believe we can experience anything worse than last season," Young said. "We had the injury list from hell and then all the financial difficulties. I fail to see how this season can be any worse.

"It's certainly made me stronger as a director of rugby and nothing in my career can rival what we went through last year. Very rarely do you get it from all angles and we were surrounded last season. We had the wagons circled for long periods.

"It certainly wasn't what I expected when I joined. We were ninth the season I arrived and then we lost so many players to injury. Within a month several of the senior guys had retired - 200-odd England caps were gone and we could only replace them with kids.

"But the really massive shock was what came off the field - no one in their right mind would have signed on had they known we were in that position. I signed on the understanding Wasps would have a new stadium, training facilities and investment pumped into the club.

"We were supposed to move upwards on a step-by-step process, but within six weeks of signing the club was put up for sale. We're in a much more positive situation now, but I'm not going to make bold statements about charging up the leagues. We want a solid season and then build year on year."