Decision imminent as United court new boss (12.10.06)

MAIDENHEAD United were on the brink of hiring a new manager on Wednesday but remained tight-lipped as to his identity.
Club director Peter Griffin said: “The applications closed on Monday and we’ve met some people, but we haven’t made a final decision, so the official line is ‘no comment’.
“We’re keen to get the new manager in but we’re making sure we get the right person.”
A club insider hinted that United were waiting to hear from Yeading boss Johnson Hippolyte before opening the job up to some of the other 18 candidates.
However, Griffin refused to be drawn, preferring to make an official statement when the details had been settled.
Some might think there was no rush to appoint a new boss, as United have won three games on the bounce since the departure of former manager Carl Taylor.
Griffin said: “We’ve been delighted with the players’ response. Richie Goddard and John Dreyer have got stuff sorted out there.
“We knew we had a talented group of players but we weren’t getting the results.
“The new manager coming in is going to be in a great position.
“They will already have the basis of a really decent squad.”
But Griffin also admitted that fortune had been smiling on the club in recent weeks, particularly with respect to the FA Cup draw, which handed them a home tie against Sussex County League minnows Worthing United.
The Division 1 strugglers have amassed just four points from their six league games to date, but with £5,000 at stake there is plenty to play for.
Griffin said: “We’ve been getting a bit of luck.You can’t ask for more than a draw against a lower division team at home.
“But Worthing are from the same step as Carterton, and it took us two games to beat them.
“Cup games are always going to be close. If we had a higher league team we’d up our game, and they’ll do the same.
“But it’s a chance to reach the fourth qualifying round, and then we could start dreaming about a big draw.”
He continued: “We’re up to eighth in the league, we’re only a point off the play-off spots, we’re still in the FA Cup and we’ve got the FA Trophy next weekend.
“It shows what the season could still be like.”
Caretaker manager Goddard was also pleased with progress, saying: “I’m delighted.Three on the bounce! I think that’s the first time since John Dreyer was in charge in 2004.”
However, despite his ‘lucky manager’ tag, Goddard believes his side deserved Saturday’s 2-1 win at Stamford, albeit with the help of two own goals.
He said: “They were balls that were difficult to defend, and if the defenders hadn’t put them in our attackers would have done.”
Indeed, the omens were good before the game, as Goddard explained: “At Stamford they were celebrating Apple Day.
“I told the boys we should ‘turn them over’, and if we put them under pressure they’d ‘crumble’.”
With the appointment of a full-time manager imminent, Goddard is yet to learn if he will be in charge for Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Worthing.
He said: “I would love to be in charge, but whether I will be or not I don’t know. I could be selling programmes again.”
However, if he is still at the reins, he won’t be underestimating his lower-league opponents.
He added: “They have won three or four games in the cup and they beat Romford 4-2, so they’re no mugs.
“But the boys are in good spirits and looking forward to the game.”