Other Non league

Kettering Town sack boss Maison
Kettering Town have sacked manager Morrell Maison, despite the club lying second in the Conference North table. A weekend defeat to Hinkley effectively ended their automatic promotion chances to the Conference, but they are still set to feature in the play-offs. A club statement confirmed: "It is with great disappointment we can confirm Morell Maison has been relieved of his duties as first-team manager." Kettering have not put a time frame on the announcement of a successor.

Atkinson leaves post at Kettering
Ron Atkinson has left his post as director of football with Conference North side Kettering Town. Poppies' chairman Imraan Ladak said the former Manchester United, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday boss has left Rockingham Road by mutual consent. Atkinson's departure followed the dismissal of manager Morell Maison after the defeat to Hinckley. Ladak told Kettering's website: "Ron didn't agree with the decision to change our managerial approach." The defeat to Hinckley dented Kettering's automatic promotion hopes and Ladak said: "I believe it is our best chance of achieving our promotion aspirations and have made this decision in the best interests of the club." "Ron felt it would be better for any incoming manager to be able to work from a clean slate." Atkinson began his managerial career with Kettering in 1971. He rejoined the club, which had Paul Gascoigne as manager for a 39-day spell last year, in January. Kettering, who lie second in the Conference North table, have placed coach Danny Nicholls in temporary charge but are set to name a caretaker manager until the end of the season. Before rejoining Kettering, Atkinson had been out of football since 2004 when he lost his job as an ITV pundit for making a racist comment which was broadcast when he thought he was off-air.

Droylsden claim Conference place
Droylsden won promotion to the Conference for the first time with a 2-0 win at home to Harrogate Town. The Bloods scored goals in each half from Steve Halford and Terry Fearns to give themselves an unassailable lead at the top of the Conference North. Droylsden have lost just once at home in the league all season, and a late penalty from Fearns ensured time was seen out in celebratory fashion. The win seals a non-league double after they lifted the Manchester Premier Cup. Droylsden saw off Flixton 3-0 in the final on Wednesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Droylsden: Phillips, Halford, Warmer, Ruffer, Burke, Gareth Morris, Tandy, Kelly, Fearns, Daly, Lynch. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Morton, Jagielka, Fowler, Fitzpatrick. Goals: Halford 35, Fearns 84 pen. Harrogate Town: Lindley, Lee Wood, Merris, Ellerker, Timons, Darren Dunning, Bettney, Roy Hunter, Colin Hunter, Holland, Philpott. Subs Not Used: McGarry, Webster, Thomas, Martyn Wood. Att: 1,027 Ref: B Tattan (England).

Pennock to quit Welling for Stoke
Welling United manager Adrian Pennock is to leave the Conference South club at the end of the season to take up a coaching position with Stoke City. Pennock, who played under Stoke boss Tony Pulis at Bournemouth and Gillingham, is to join the youth set-up at the Britannia Stadium. "I hope the fans understand why I am leaving. It was a chance I couldn't turn down," he told the Bexley Extra. The 36-year-old has been in charge of Welling since 2005.

Four Nations squads are announced
Conference champions Dagenham & Redbridge have had three players named in the England National Game squad for the Four Nations Tournament this month. Leading Conference scorer Paul Benson is joined by Glen Southam and Anwar Uddin in boss Paul Fairclough's 18-man squad for the tournament in Scotland. Wales, who are the tournament's defending champions, have named six Conference players in their squad. Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts and striker Chris Moore are included. However, three Welsh players and six English squad members - all from Oxford, Exeter, York and Morecambe - are involved in the Conference play-offs. The play-off final at Wembley is scheduled to be played two days before Wales start the defence of their title against hosts Scotland, while England open against the Republic of Ireland. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- England National Game XI squad: Nicky Bull (Aldershot), Billy Turley (Oxford), Adam Yates (Morecambe), Jon Ashton (Rushden & Diamonds), Jamie Stuart (Grays), Anwar Uddin (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kieran Charnock (Northwich), Billy Jones (Exeter), Michael Carr (Northwich), Stuart Thurgood (Grays), Neal Bishop (York), Glen Southam (Dagenham & Redbridge), Lee Elam (Exeter), Andy Burgess (Oxford), Paul Benson (Dagenham & Redbridge), Robbie Simpson (Cambridge), Charlie McDonald (Gravesend), Dennis Oli (Grays). Wales squad: Tony Roberts (Dagenham & Redbridge), Ashley Morris (Merthyr Tydfil), Chris Todd (Exeter), Ian Hillier (Newport County), Paul Keddle (Carmarthen Town), Chris Thomas (Carmarthen Town), Daniel Parslow (York), Gethin Jones (Bath City), Adrian Harris (Bath City), Chris Holloway (Merthyr Tydfil), Lee John (Port Talbot Town), Michael Byrne (Northwich), Chris Venables (Caersws), Graham Evans (Caersws), Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli), Craig Hughes (Newport County), Chris Moore (Dagenham & Redbridge), Robert Duffy (Oxford). Four Nations Tournament: Tuesday, 22 May: Scotland v Wales at Victoria Park (Ross County FC), 1945 BST Republic of Ireland v England at Grant Street Park (Clachnacudddin FC), 1945 BST Friday, 25 May: Wales v Republic of Ireland at Dudgeon Park (Brora Rangers FC) Scotland v England at Victoria Park, 2000 BST Sunday, 27 May: England v Wales at Grant Street Park, 1400 BST Scotland v Republic of Ireland at Victoria Park, 1400 BST

Salisbury clinch Conference place
Boss Nick Holmes says Salisbury City are ahead of schedule in their dream of League football after winning a place in the Conference top flight. Matt Tubbs' 85th minute strike earned The Whites victory over Braintree in the Conference South play-off, and a second successive promotion. Holmes said: "When I came here five years ago I said I wanted to bring League football in ten years. "Five years on, we're a league higher than I expected."

Sinnott stunned at Celtic revival
Farsley Celtic boss Lee Sinnott says he was stunned by the fightback which saw his side promoted to the Conference. Celtic scored two late goals to come from behind and beat Hinckley United 4-3 in the Conference North play-off final at Burton on Monday. Sinnott told the Halifax Courier: "I can't believe what I have seen. This team does not know when it's beaten. "We struggled at times. But if you get in front with 10 metres of a race to go you don't have long to hold on."

Hayes and Yeading announce merger
Conference South sides Hayes and Yeading have merged to create a new club called Hayes and Yeading FC. Both clubs were located within the Middlesex town of Hayes and the new team will play their home games at Hayes' Church Road ground. Garry Haylock, who was appointed Yeading boss in December 2006, will take charge of the merged club. The Football Conference League has approved the merger but it is still subject to ratification by the FA. Former Hayes FC Chairman Derek Goodall said "It is well known that for years our clubs have struggled to attract the big gates needed to survive at this level. "By combining efforts, know-how and strategy we can secure the future of high-level football in the area." Former Yeading FC chairman Phillip Spurden added: "On the field both sides have been punching far above their weight for many years. "But to build on that and take the next step we need to match that off the field as a business, in the stadium, surroundings and amenities."

Histon boss Fallon swoops for duo
Histon boss Steve Fallon has stepped up preparations for the club's first Conference campaign with the signings of Dean Bradshaw and Cliff Akurang. Striker Akurang, 26, has joined the Conference South champions from Dagenham and Redbridge, while winger Bradshaw arrives from Braintree Town. Fallon had added goalkeepers Danny Naisbitt and Mark Osborn and full-back Craig Pope to his squad. In addition, teenage striker Danny Wright has signed a new two-year deal.

Histon agree to release Jackman
Histon have agreed to release defender Steve Jackman from his contract. Jackman joined Histon from Bedford Town in 2005 and was a first-team regular in his first season with the Stutes but made only nine starts last term. Histon manager Steve Fallon said: "I can understand his frustration as he wants to play week in week out and we cannot guarantee that. "The chairman agreed Steve can find another club and we won't ask for a fee so he can move without complication."

Salisbury allow pair to move on
Salisbury City striker Declan McGregor and midfielder Alex Haddow are to leave the club after boss Nick Holmes decided against offering them new contracts. McGregor joined the Whites in the summer of 2006 from Cobh Ramblers and scored two goals in 24 games. Haddow joined Salisbury in November 2005 after impressing during a loan spell from Eastleigh. Meanwhile, Salisbury stalwart Simon Browne, 36, has been appointed player-coach of City's reserve team.

Stalybridge beat Bloods to Roca
Stalybridge Celtic have won the chase to sign winger Carlos Roca from Northwich Victoria. Roca, 22, had looked set to join Droylsden after having his contract terminated by the Vics. However, he has now decided to link up again with former Northwich manager Steve Burr at Blue Square North side Stalybridge. The former Carlisle United player, who made 84 appearances for the Vics, was transfer-listed earlier this summer. Meanwhile, Northwich plan to appeal against a transfer tribunal's recent decision to order Accrington to pay £4,000 for defender Mark Roberts. Vics chairman Mike Connett described the fee for the 23-year-old, who joined Stanley on a 12-month deal in July, as "derisory".

Staylybridge bag Spireites man
Chesterfield midfielder Gareth Davies has joined Blue Square North side Stalybridge Celtic on a month's loan. Davies moves to the Bower Fold to step up his return to first-team football after missing the start of the season with a broken toe. The 24-year-old sustained the injury in a pre-season friendly. Davies, who can also play in defence, will not be permitted to feature in Celtic's FA Cup tie with league rivals Hyde United next weekend. He is Chesterfield's longest serving player with 126 appearances for the club

Bognor sign ex-Wales keeper Jones
Wales goalkeeping coach Paul Jones has joined non-League side Bognor Town on a short-term deal. The 40-year-old, who has won 50 caps for Wales, was released by Queen's Park Rangers in May and has not played competitive football since. Welsh Premiership champions The New Saints wanted Jones to join them for their Champions League campaign but he rejected that overture. Now he has agreed to play for the Rocks in the Blue Square Conference South. Jones made his Bognor debut in last week's 3-1 home loss to Bath City, with his new team then losing to a last-minute goal in Saturday's trip to Thurrock.

Bluebirds dismiss manager Wilson
Phil Wilson has been sacked as manager of Blue Square North club Barrow. Wilson led the Bluebirds to a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in Saturday's FA Cup first-round tie at Holker Street. But with Barrow just one place above the relegation zone after winning only two league games this season, Wilson's near two-year reign has been ended. "We urge fans to support this decision and those who stayed away, for whatever reason, to return and help push the club forward," said a club statement.

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