Alan Devonshire has been appointed Maidenhead United manager

Alan Devonshire was today appointed as the new manager of Maidenhead United, returning to the club he first managed from 1996-2003.

The 59-year-old had been favourite to be named as boss at York Road ever since he split from Braintree Town three weeks ago after he said he wanted the opportunity to talk to 'interested third parties'.

He takes over the reins from Johnson Hippolyte who ended his eight-and-a-half-year spell in charge on a high on Monday by lifting the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup following a 4-0 win over Aylesbury United.

Magpies chairman Peter Griffin said he is delighted to have signed his first choice target for the role, adding that Devonshire was the man to take the club forward while sticking to a budget.

"It's Alan Devonshire," he said.

"For me it's the right appointment and it's what's needed.

"He has expereince at Maidenhead - although it was 12 years ago - but from here he moved on to Hampton where he took them into the play-offs twice and then kept them up on a reduced budget.

"He's had four years at Braintree where he has done an excellent job particularly as they are part-timers in a full time league.

"He knows how to work on a budget and I believe he is the man to take us forward."

He added: "Over the next couple of years he will be able to build on this squad and make us a team challenging in the top eight.

"We have the infrastrucure for that and that's where we should be.

"This is not a nostalgic appointment, he's the best man for the job.

"He was the one we wanted from the start."

Griffin said that although Devonshire was always at the top of his list, the club had plenty of options as they had received a large number of applicants and had informal conversations  with candidates of 'exceptional quality'.

Former England and West Ham midfielder Devonshire initially managed at York Road alongside Martyn Busby before taking sole charge in March 1997.

In the following six seasons - under his no-nonsense brand of football - the Magpies lifted the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup four times, the Isthmian League Full Members Cup and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division.