Richard Hill has taken over as Witney United’s manager with the aim of preserving their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division status this season.

And then the former Oxford United midfielder, who was most recently coach at Didcot Town, is looking for the club to challenge for honours in the future.

“The first target is to keep us in the Premier Division,” he said. “That’s going to be tough, I’m under no illusions about that.

“We need to win enough games to stay up, and in my mind, we need at least 40 points.

“Speaking to the committee, I said the most important thing is to plan for next season and that there would be funds available.

“Next season’s ambition was the biggest thing that swayed me to come to the club.

“The committee have told me they are going to try and put the club in a position to make funds available to make it viable for us to challenge.

“I want to get this club to the top of the league and bring in the best players available to us.”

Hill’s reign got off to an inauspicious start on Saturday when Witney turned up for their Bluefin Insurance Brokers Cup second round tie at Wantage with only nine players – and lost 5-0.