REDDITCH United manager Rod Brown has already turned his thoughts to next season after guiding his resurgent Reds to seventh.

After flirting with relegation for much of last season, Brown came within a point and a place of delivering the sixth place finish he promised and United could find themselves among the favourites for next year's title if they can keep their squad together.

Halesowen Town will provide tough competition after one year in the Premier Division but another top seven finish should be within United's reach and looks set to be enough to win promotion to a new-look Premier Division prompted by the enlargement of the Nationwide Conference.

Reds number two Gary Whild says he is confident of keeping this year's squad together and wants to add a handful of new faces.

Wing back Simon Hollis, who finished top scorer for United with 14 goals, is nearing the end of his contract with Western Division rivals Solihull Borough but would still command a fee because of his age.

If Redditch fail to meet Solihull's valuation the fee will be decided by a tribunal similar to the one who decided United winger Alex Cowley would cost £1,000 from Stourport last close season.

And Whild admitted Halesowen striker Richard Leadbetter is one of the strikers he is chasing.

United finished with a 3-1 defeat at Taunton last week and reversed the result in their final home game - against Rugby on Saturday.