Drax: 'I take my hat off to the players'

Whatever Johnson ‘Drax’ Hippolyte is putting in the water at York Road seems to be paying dividends.

After last season’s strife, supporters are scratching their heads as to how Maidenhead United are sitting second in the Conference South after seven games. However, Drax knows exactly why - he has assembled the perfect squad with the right work ethic.

“It’s no secret,” revealed the Magpies boss. “We’ve signed some good players with a good pedigree and good ability who want to listen, learn and work hard. We’ve got a young squad who are hungry for success.

“At the end of last season we had a long look at myself and the management team and tweaked it a bit. We haven’t changed a lot - all the philosophies are the same and we’ve always had a good work ethic.”

Drax has always been very much  a hands-on manager, donning his tracksuit and getting among his players on the training ground and he believes it is paying off this season.

“Some people disagree with the way I manage but it’s the way I am. It’s the way I want to manage.

“But it’s really down to the players. They’ve come in and worked and hard and learnt.

“I take my hat off to them.”

A repeat of last term’s struggle for survival was out of the question this time around. Drax made a promise to directors Peter Griffin and Una Loughrey that he would deliver the goods this year and it seems that the Magpies are almost halfway to reaching the relative safety of the 40 point mark.

“I said the directors the we would have a good season this year,” said Drax.

“My target was to finish higher than last season and we’re already halfway there.”

Saturday’s draw with Weston-Super-Mare thrust United up to third spot before victory against Fisher Athletic put them top of the Conference South for the first time ever. However, AFC Wimbledon’s 1-0 win over Braintree Town on Tuesday knocked Maidenhead into second.

“It was absolutely fantastic to go top,” said Drax. “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with well-wishers. We knew it’d probably be for only 24 hours but it was still fantastic.”

Next weekend (Saturday, September 13), Maidenhead travel to Wimbledon in a game which could see Hippolyte’s side gain an early advantage at the top.

Drax predicted: “If we can get a win against Newport County, then we can go to Wimbledon and try to get ahead of them. It will be a great game and I’m looking forward to it.”

Lee Newman is currently doubtful for tomorrow’s home game with Newport, but Drax believes his squad is so strong that he can cope with injuries without much disruption to the team.

“Against Fisher, I changed four players,” he commented. “With the squad we’ve got I feel we can do that.

“All four who came in were excellent and it gives me a major problem for Friday.”