Brackley went through three managers this season and director of football Phil Lines is Mason's old boss at Byfield Road.

A Geordie, Mason has also been linked with a move back home to live in the north-east.

He made 70-odd
appearances for Newcastle Reserves and is also an
ex-Banbury United player.

In charge at Woodford, Mason won the UCL title in 2005-06 and saw his team finish a creditable eighth at the first attempt in the Southern League's Midlands Division.

His teams were noted for their defensive qualities, but this season the Reds suffered three budget cuts and a player exodus led to a lowly 19th position in the table.

Mason rightly feels that the new Byfield Road incumbent will have a tough time unless chairman Andy Worrall and his
committee can bring in extra revenue for an improved players' wages
structure.

Help was at hand in an unusual way on the final Saturday of the Southern League season when Leamington failed to win the Midlands Division
play-offs final against Stourbridge.

The Brakes went down
2-1 in front of 1,634
spectators at Harbury Lane after a heart-breaking 117th minute extra-time winner from Glassboys striker Leon Broadhurst.

Continued home games against Leamington will be worth several thousand pounds a time to
cash-strapped Woodford as this season's Byfield Road clash attracted a record crowd of 428 on April 12.

Leamington brought about 350 fans with them, which represented gate receipts of about £2,000, not to mention the food and drink consumed.

"I'm obviously disappointed for Leamington, as they finished 11 points or more ahead of the other three play-offs teams," said Worrall, "but, from a selfish point of view, I am glad they are staying down!"

Without Leamington in the Midlands Division, Woodford would have been without a derby as Rothwell, Bedworth and Barton Rovers scarcely
fit the bill.

Barton-le-Clay on Boxing Day is not an obvious box office winner and the Reds were without a fixture on Easter Monday
this year.