BANBURY United manager Mike Ford has welcomed the extension of his contract to the end of next season.

Ford, who signed the new deal with the Evo-Stik South League Premier Division outfit at the weekend, said: “Clubs like ours need a bit of stability and I am looking forward to continuing the work that we have started here at Banbury.”

When Ford took over two-and-half years ago, the Puritans had just been relegated from the Premier Division.

In the former Oxford United defender’s first year in charge, they were promoted and then last season came sixth in the Premier.

He said: “We’ve had two years of unbridled success and want us to continue to move forward.

“The manager’s the most important person in the club. Others may hire and fire, but it’s the manager who sets the direction.”

When Banbury won the first five games this season, there were hopes of promotion, but they have faltered since then and stand 11th.

“We’ve not been quite good enough,” admitted Ford, whose side gained a 3-2 victory at Stratford-upon-Avon on New Year’s Day.

He names the same squad for the match at home to Hitchin Town tomorrow.

Banbury Utd (v Hitchin Tn, home): from Harding, Hawtin, Ngathe, Nash, Wise, Carnell, Self, Sandy, Johnson, McDonagh, Winters, Howards, Bryan, Macdonald, Clayton.