Banbury United can look forward to derby games against Oxford City and newly-promoted Didcot Town after they received a reprieve from relegation from the British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division.

Confirmation that they had escaped the drop came after the FA National League System Committee announced the allocations for the various divisions yesterday.

It looked as though the Puritans would be facing up to life in the Midland Division after they finished in the relegation zone.

It could have been all over for Billy Jeffrey’s side had King’s Lynn, who were demoted from Blue Square North due to not carrying out ground improvements in time, been placed in the Premier Division rather than the Northern Premier Division where they will play next season.

King’s Lynn will replace Cammell Laird who lost their appeal against demotion to Division 1 South of the Northern Premier League for failing to carry out ground improvements by the deadline set by the FA.

Boss Jeffrey said the news had come as a massive relief.

“I’ve been on tenterhooks for weeks,” he said.

“I’m absolutely delighted. It just makes all the work we did last season worthwhile. It shows how important it was that we got as many points at the end of the season.

“But I always felt we had a chance of staying up. That win at Brackley (they won 2-1) was vital to us.

“It’s onwards and upwards for us. All that matters is we have escaped.

“Things went wrong last season and we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“I am very glad I stayed because I could have left the club when we got relegated, but I wanted to keep faith with Banbury.”

Jeffrey added: “I am looking forward to all those local derbies against Oxford City, Didcot, Rugby, Leamington and Brackley.”

Banbury director Nigel Porter said: “All three clubs that finished in 19th at the same level in the football pyramid (Step 3) got reprieved. We are very pleased. The board had made contingency plans for relegation, but we were always hoping we would get a reprieve.

“We are now looking forward to the coming season with confidence.

“We were in a dilemma. We couldn’t plan as we didn’t know what division we would be playing in.”