‘I will give fans all the answers’

O’Driscoll wants to set record straight on future of United

HAYES & Yeading United chairman Tony O’Driscoll has thrown open the doors at Beaconsfield Road for fans to get answers.

United are playing their football at Maidenhead’s York Road this season as work has again stalled on their proposed new home.

Estimates have suggested it will cost around £500,000 to see the club return to the borough and far more to complete the construction to the original specification.

There has been speculation about the future of the Conference South outfit among supporters and O’Driscoll has moved to allay their fears by holding an open forum next Wednesday.

He said: “On Saturday I asked the fans to come down next week. I want to talk to them and give them the answers they are looking for.

“They can ask whatever questions they want. There is information being spread around that is just wrong, so I will give them the opportunity to get the truth from me.

“I’ve asked the manager to come down and all of the people that can help out answering questions, whoever they may be.

“Anything they want to ask, they can ask. I’m sure they’ve all got questions.”

While United continue to struggle off the field, significant progress has been made on it after last season’s dreadful campaign.

Phil Babb’s boys were unlucky to go down 2-1 to Conference South promotion hopefuls Bromley at the weekend – Pat Cox netting their consolation – and O’Driscoll is delighted with the improvement.

He added: “Bromley are one of the favourites and we gave a good account of ourselves.

“I spoke to their manager afterwards and he thought we were worth a point. Last season we’d probably have lost that game three or four-nil.

“We are doing much better and everybody is pleased. There are a few of the same players from last year but some new ones have come in as well and added steel.

“We’re not giving up early and we’re fighting until the final whistle. Last year, perhaps it got to 60 or 70 minutes and we threw in the towel. You play a different type of football when you’re down the bottom. We’re playing with a little bit of confidence now and it is psychological.”

Meanwhile, Hayes & Yeading, who are at Farnborough on Saturday, have been drawn at home to Horsham in the FA Trophy thitd qualifying round on November 29.

Elsewhere, Wealdstone, who beat Chelmsford 2-0 in Conference South on Monday thanks to Elliott Godfrey and Shaun Lucien strikes, will face rivals St Albans in the Trophy.

This weekend the Stones host Concord Rangers when Conference sponsor Vanarama visit their Ruislip home at Grosvenor Vale, offering a funfilled day of vuvuzelas, music and the chance for fans to win a shirt-signed by the team. UXBRIDGE assistant boss Paul Mills reckons individual errors are costing them dearly in games after watching the Reds knocked out of the FA Trophy by Didcot Town on Saturday, writes Toby Maxtone-Smith.

Kevin Warner looked to have snatched a 2-2 draw at the death only for match officials to have adjudged the ball had not crossed the line.

It left boss Tony Choules and his staff gutted at the final whistle as they crashed out of the competition at the second qualifying round.

Mills said: “From where we were it looked like it crossed the line, but we’re very far away and it’s tough with so many bodies in the box.

“The first two goals gave us a mountain to climb, but we feel hard done by. We’ve always got goals in the side, but these individual errors are costing us games.”

A clumsy Adam Pepera foul in the box gave the Oxfordshire side an early penalty, which John Mills converted.

Uxbridge found themselves under the cosh and Didcot doubled their lead courtesy of captain Luke Carnell, who was impressive all game at the heart of the visitors’ defence.

The second period certainly signalled an improvement, but when Dave Thomas was sent off for a second yellow eight minutes from time the game looked up.

However, a Chris Moore tap-in then set up a thrilling climax.

And with almost the last kick of the game Uxbridge thought they had forced a replay only for the officials to have judged that the ball did not cross the line.

Having missed out on the £3,200 prize money for qualifying for the next round, Uxbridge’s focus will now turn to Southern Division One Central as they face Bedworth United at home on Saturday before visiting Leighton Town on Tuesday night.

Northwood were also knocked out of the Trophy by a 2-1 scoreline as Dave Lawrence’s late strike was not enough to save them against Wimborne Town.

They are back to league action at the weekend at home to Chalfont St Peter and then travel to Barton Rovers on Tuesday night.

AFC Hayes remain bottom of the table after a 1-0 loss to Marlow at the weekend and they head to Aylesbury on Saturday.

In the Spartan South Midlands Premier, Harefield United suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Berkhamsted on Saturday where Benjamin Porter grabbed their consolation.

They were due to travel to Ampthill Town last night (Tuesday) and then visit Hadley on Saturday and Leverstock Green on Tuesday night.

In the same division, Hillingdon Borough had no scheduled game at the weekend and are at AFC Dunstable tonight (Wednesday).

They then travel to Hoddesdon Town on Saturday before welcoming Ampthill Town on Tuesday night.