Brentford go into the off-season in a better position with less changes expected than last year.

The Bees ended a turbulent 2016/17 campaign with a ninth placed finish but, if Matthew Benham's dreams of seeing Brentford in the Premier League are to be fulfilled, the club must improve to cut the gap to the top two or top six.

Below are five key things the club must do ensure a better season than the one just gone.

Extend Jake Bidwell and David Button's contracts

Skipper: Jake Bidwell

Brentford must tie down captain Jake Bidwell and goalkeeper David Button to new contracts early in the summer, in order to avoid any question marks about two key players going into next season.

The pair both see their deals with the club expire in 2017. Button has been an ever present all season, while Bidwell has only missed 108 minutes in the league all campaign.

Talks have been on hold in the closing weeks of the season but it would be a positive sign if two key players were signed up early in the summer, rather than see protracted contract negotiations as we saw with Harlee Dean.

Keep things simple

Konstantin Kerschbaumer

Last summer there was a feeling that the club tried to be too clever for their own good in looking at alternative markets.

As I've previously alluded to, signing a player is always a gamble to a greater or lesser degree and there are, naturally, more questions that need to be answered (about settling into the club) regarding a player from abroad.

The club gambled too much last summer and it affected their performances this season; notably Lasse Vibe and Konstantin Kerschbaumer.

The duo, who finally can have a long holiday after 18 months of action, have been in excellent form at the back end of the season but their performances in the first three months of the year left a lot to be desired; although they do have extenuating circumstances.

Keep hold of Scott Hogan

Cheeky: Scott Hogan makes it 2-0

The striker has had an absolutely ridiculous scoring streak; notching seven goals in just 163 minutes since his return from his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Clubs may consider Scott Hogan a risk worth gambling on, especially after his goalscoring form, but Brentford are yet to see the best of him.

It'd be a crying shame if the club were to lose the striker, particularly after helping him through the dark times.

The Alan Judge conundrum

Boy in Green: Alan Judge (L)

Brentford expected to sell Alan Judge this summer before his double broken leg at Ipswich.

The Irishman is out of contract in 2017 but is unlikely to be playing until he enters the final few months of his contract.

Prior to his injury, Judge held all the aces in negotiations given his form, which saw him sweep the board at the end of season awards.

However, it is unknown how he will recover from his injuries, although everyone connected to the club hopes he returns a better player. It took Aaron Ramsey a long time to perform for Arsenal again after his leg break.

This means the club can offer him a show of faith for the 2017/18 season and if Judge returns in the same manner as Hogan then they can still cash in next summer.

Sort loan deals early

Brentford's Sergi Canos shoots against Brighton and Hove Albion at Griffin Park.

With the emergency loan window no longer available to clubs like Brentford they must make decisions on loan deals earlier in the summer.

Last season, Marco Djuricin and Sergi Canos came in the back end of the transfer window, while John Swift joined the club in October on an emergency loan that was soon extended.

The Bees also signed Leandro Rodriguez in March, although injury limited his appearances.

Alex Pritchard shone having been signed early in the summer of 2014 and repeating a signing of his calibre will be a masterstroke from Smith.