Destination unknown (18.05.06)

MAIDENHEAD United are taking a journey into the unknown, following a major reshuffle of the non-league pyramid.
The FA announced the new constitution of non-league football on Friday afternoon, and have put United back in the Southern League after an absence of 104 years.
United’s opponents will be Banbury United, Bath City, Cheshunt, Chippenham Town, Cirencester Town, Clevedon Town, Corby Town, Gloucester City, Halesowen Town, Hemel Hempstead Town, Hitchin Town, King’s Lynn, Mangotsfield United, Merthyr Tydfil, Northwood, Rugby Town, Stamford, Team Bath, Tiverton Town, Wealdstone and Yate Town, none of whom United have played on a regular basis in recent years.
Like last season, the champions get automatic promotion, with the next four teams playing off for the second promotion spot, while four teams are relegated.
Club director Peter Griffin was pleased with the FA’s decision, saying: “I’m very excited by the Southern Premier set-up.
“We had no say in where we were put, but in terms of taking the club forward I think it’s the best place for us.
“If we’d been given another reprieve I could see us fighting to finish fourth from bottom again. The Ryman Premier would have been good for a few local derbies, but I think the Southern Premier gives the club more opportunity to progress.
“Also we have some real giants of non-league football like Bath City and King’s Lynn.
“It’s very exciting. Teams like Bath will bring good support here.
“In terms of travel it’s similar to the Conference South, and from a football point of view it’s the best thing for us. It’s a decent division but it will allow us to move forward.”
The bookies seem to agree, with the Tote rating the Magpies as favourites to win the league.
Griffin added: “We have an opportunity to start from fresh in a new division.
“And there’s been no shortage of interest from players, which is very good news for the club.”
Manager Carl Taylor also viewed the move positively, while admitting he was not familiar with many of the teams in the new division.
He said: “It’s a bit of an unknown, but I’ve heard the Tote have installed us as 7-1 favourites.
“I don’t know about that. King’s Lynn are one of the top teams and they are a financially strong club.
“It is intriguing though
“From a position of consolidating in a league we could have done it in either. We’re used to more of the teams in the Ryman, but there are some very big hitters.
“In the Southern League we don’t know anybody and they don’t know us. That might be an advantage. We can quietly get on with our work.
“People say it’s a big travelling league, but it’s only really King’s Lynn and Tiverton. I’m looking forward to it.”
One potential cloud on Taylor’s horizon is news that his former assistant Tony Choules and former keeper Scott Tarr are setting up together as a management team at Uxbridge.
Taylor said: “No doubt they’ll try to lure players over there, but I don’t see them being too successful.
“The only person who’s definitely leaving is Steve Dell. Everyone else is potentially staying. And I’ve spoken to a good 10 other players.
“There’s a minimum of four or five I want to stay and there are others I’m still looking at.
“But I’ll have more news next week."