United could have loads of local derbies next season after securing their second division survival.

With Swindon Town relegated from Division 1 and Northampton on the verge of automatic promotion from Division 3, they could have Swindon, Reading, Wycombe, Northampton and possibly Cheltenham, plus Luton, Brentford and the two Bristol clubs, which are all easy journeys.

As well as being easy away matches to get to, having these clubs in the same division should guarantee a good-sized visitors' support at the Manor.

Skipper Les Robinson is greatly relieved that United will be playing second division football next season. "I took my son Liam to training at Coventry on Tuesday night and just as I left, a taxi driver from down the road told me that Cardiff had taken the lead.

"I couldn't believe it and was thinking we would have to go to Millwall needing something. But as soon as Cardiff went 2-1 down with the man sent off I was confident Gillingham would win." Rob Folland said he was happier than most that Cardiff went down.

"Being from Swansea, I can't really say that I have too much sympathy for Cardiff," he said.

Coach Mickey Lewis said: "I listened to a bit on the radio but, to be honest, it does your head in doing that, so I decided to put the text on.

"Then I saw that Cardiff had scored in the first minute and thought 'oh, no!' But as soon as I saw they were 2-1 down and had a man sent off, I felt that was it."