Midfielder Conor Clifford says he would love to return to Barnet next season on a full-time basis and has backed the Bees to thrive in League Two, with or without him.

The 23-year-old Dubliner spent three months on loan with the Bees last season and played 13 times as Martin Allen’s men won the Conference on the final day of the season to clinch a return to the Football League.

However, the former Chelsea youngster will be freed by parent club Southend United when his contract expires on June 30 – a decision he admits he expected once he had been allowed to leave Roots Hall on loan.

Bees head coach Allen last week confirmed he was interested in bringing the combative central midfielder to The Hive on a permanent basis next season.

He said: “I have definitely got an interest in Conor Clifford.

“But he is one of a number of players who we are looking at and one of a number of players who are available at the moment.”

Clifford is currently on holiday in Dublin and last week told the Times Series he was keen to re-join Barnet on a permanent basis if possible.

“I would love to go back and play under Martin Allen,” he confirmed. “Obviously he is looking to see who he can bring in at the minute but I would love to come back and play for Barnet in the league.

“I think with that group of players and with adding one or two more, they could really do well in League Two and cause a few surprises to a few people.”

Asked about his time at the club, the former Leicester City midfielder said: “I loved it there. It was a great group of lads there and I got on really well with the manager.

“I loved my time there, it was great. It’s a lovely set-up there with the stadium and the training ground which are brilliant and I loved it there.”

He continued: “It was brilliant. I played in some important games. Away to Eastleigh was an important game because we got beat the week before that and we had to win. I think that was the most enjoyable win, apart from the last game of the season.

“I think all the games were really tough as it was my first time playing in the Conference. It was weird; like you would go to Bristol Rovers and then the next week you’d go away to Alfreton or something and it was a lot different. No disrespect to them, but it was tighter like a local league ground. I loved every minute of it.”

Clifford played an integral part in the Bees’ return to the Football League, featuring in an unfamiliar but highly effective left midfield role in the all-important 2-0 victory over Gateshead on the final day of the season.

Asked where promotion sat in a career which has seen him win the Reserve Premier League and FA Youth Cup at Chelsea, as well as representing his country at Under-21 level, Clifford was unequivocal.

“It’s the best thing I’ve done so far in my career, definitely,” he stated. “Getting promoted [to the first team] after winning the Youth Cup was big when I was younger, but in my senior career I think this is definitely the biggest thing I’ve done.”