NORTHWOOD are this week set to discover their fate for the forthcoming football season after the FA's leagues committee meets today (Wednesday).

Theoretically any of the borough's senior clubs could be moved but realistically only the Woods are in the firing line and some are tipping them to be switched back to the Southern League, although this would go against the FA's own guideline that clubs should not be transferred more than once every three years.

After finishing the Ryman One North season so well Northwood could find themselves in Southern League Division One South and West, gaining local derbies with Uxbridge, Hillingdon Borough and AFC Hayes, but probably having to trek to Truro City, who won the Western League and are almost certain to come into the Southern League.

However,Woods chairman Ian Barry suspects his club will not be going anywhere.

"I have an inkling that we will stay where we are but at this time of the season there are all sorts of permutations as to what can happen," said Barry, whose closest league rival last year was Edgware and they have since withdrawn from next season's competition. "At Northwood we've become used to being a bit of a puppet on a string in that respect.

"It's been very hard for us to come up through the Ryman League and then get put into the Southern Premier for some unknown reason and when we get relegated we get put back in the Ryman League.

"I personally don't mind either division but I don't think it's right that Northwood should be moved around willy-nilly to compensate for other clubs being saved from relegation.

"I think if a club is being saved from relegation they should be moved about as the price they have to pay."

Northwood faced financial ruin three years ago when they were stuck in the Southern Premier but they do not have to face the same crippling travelling costs at the level below, whether it be in the Southern or Ryman League. A groundsharing agreement with Wealdstone helped them through those troubled times but that has now ended and, back on an even keel, Northwood do not have to rely on that money next season. [25a0] Mark Dennison landed a clean sweep of the awards at Uxbridge's presentation evening.

The defender was named manager's player, players' player and supporters' player of the year.

Adrian Dinham (manager's most improved player) and Mark Sargeant (players' player and manager's player) took the honours in the reserves.

The U18 awards went to Mark Smith (players' player), Alan Bvindi (manager's most improved player) and Ross Thompson (manager's player).

* The Warren, former home of Yeading FC in Beaconsfield Road, Hayes, hosts two games as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of Middlesex County FA. A Middlesex Ladies XI plays South East at 1pm on Sunday followed at 3pm by a match between a Middlesex Senior XI and Middlesex Wanderers. Admission is £2 by programme.