BRAINTREE Town manager Alan Devonshire revealed it was always his intention to sign a new contract with the Iron after penning a fresh one-year deal with Iron.

Devonshire has led Town to a comfortable mid-table position with the side currently sitting in 12th position on 56 points, with seven games remaining.

The Iron face fourth-placed Southport at the Amlin Stadium, in Blue Square Bet Premier tonight, and is looking forward to building on what he has started with the north Essex club.

“There was never any problem with my contract,” said Devonshire.

“I always said it was going to happen because at the end of the day, I am someone who likes to build a football team.

“It’s been a hell of a season and I imagine it is going to be tougher next season but I am looking forward to the challenge.”

The Iron look set for a second season in the Conference’s top-tier with the Iron’s ground improvements ready to be rubber-stamped by the league.

The club were facing the prospect of demotion back to Blue Square Bet South had they not met Saturday’s deadline to complete improvements but chairman Lee Harding revealed today that the club look set to be given the green light.

Whether or not the club remained in the Premier Division had no bearing on Devonshire.

“That did not come into it,” added Devonshire.

Billy Gibson, on-loan from Yeovil, could make his home debut tonight against fourth-placed Southport who are out to avenge a 4-0 drubbing earlier in the season.