Hippolyte took over from Carl Taylor at Maidenhead

Maidenhead United manager Johnson Hippolyte says his team should be capable of finishing in the top half of the Conference South this season.

The Magpies finished 16th last season, but Hippolyte says he has strengthened his squad over the summer.

He told BBC Berkshire: "With the players we've added and the experience the lads now have, I'd be disappointed if we're not in the top half.

"I've only lost one [player] I wanted to keep, so we've been really lucky."

Hippolyte has been busy expanding his playing squad this week, with centre-half Andrew Fagan joining from Windsor & Eton and former captain Ashley Nicolls returning to York Road.

He has also brought in a new coach - Simon Lane - who Hippolyte said he has been trying to bring to Maidenhead for some time.

"Simon Lane is an A-licence coach who's managed up at Windsor and Bracknell in the past and was desperate to get back in the game.

"He's been someone I've been trying to get as a coach for a couple of years now, so we're very happy to get him on board to help take the young squad we have to the next level."

With the start of the season three weeks away, Hippolyte says he is unlikely to bring any new players in to the squad.

"We have two young lads on trial - they're both 18 so they might be two additions to the squad if we can afford them - but as we speak, I am a little bit over-budget before the season's even kicked off.

"Last night we agreed terms with Jamal Fyfield who we've had quite a lot of interest in, and who I think is the best left-back in our league. He's agreed to sign so at the moment we have the majority of the squad signed or virtually agreed to sign."

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