For Brentford, the year 2004 will always be remembered for Alex Rhodes' goal on the final day of last season to earn a 1-0 win over Bournemouth and prevent the Bees being relegated from Division Two.

Rhodes, a 22-year-old left winger signed from Eastern Counties League team Newmarket Town for only £7,500 in November 2003, could develop into a star player worth ten times as much.

If that happened Brentford would be sorely tempted to sell him as they are still £4.5million overdrawn and have to meet interest payments of £300,000 a year.

Executive director John McGlashan says: "We need to find £2m to reduce the overdraft and develop Griffin Park. A bank is interested in re-financing us, but they want to see new revenue and the overdraft cut almost in half."

The option for supporters group Bees United to buy the club is due to expire in May 2005 which could mean the return of former chairman Ron Noades, although McGlashan thinks that is unlikely.

He comments: "I don't think Ron wants to take the club back. I believe he would agree to continue guaranteeing the overdraft as long as he could see an improvement."

McGlashan confirms that Brentford would have gone into administration in 2002, but were saved by the sale of Darren Powell to Crystal Palace for £400,000.

In the not too distant future there may have to be a similar sale and Rhodes is the player attracting scouts from other clubs.

He made himself a Bees legend with his winner against Bournemouth last May, but still found himself overshadowed by another new arrival - manager Martin Allen.

Allen created quite a stir and promises great things for the club in 2005.

Under previous manager Wally Downes Brentford started the year in the bottom half of the table and by March were just three points above the relegation zone.

Mad Dog' Allen was drafted in after the sacking of Downes and has weaved his magic ever since.

He continues to buy shrewdly and has brought in two golden oldies in former England winger John Salako and, more recently, Steve Claridge.

And things are looking up off the pitch as plans for relocation to a new ground are gathering pace and a £1.8million grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund to improve the current site, is close to being agreed.

With the club healthily placed in eighth position in the Football League One, the future looks bright for the Bees.

Kingstonian's season ended in play-off heartache as defeat by Lewes put paid to their Conference South promotion dream.

And it hasn't got much better since. Under chairman Rajesh Koshla, the Ks have suffered both on and off the field. Khosla has sold their Kingsmeadow Ground to AFC Wimbledon and, with the playing budget slashed, they are in danger of relegation Manager Kim Harris quit early in the season to be replaced by Scott Steele, and a host of players have departed as wealthy businessman Khosla continues to stall on selling the club.

The off-field wranglings have effected performances on the pitch and Ks start the new year bottom of the table.

Hampton and Richmond were delighted to gain promotion to the Ryman Isthmian League Premier, following the reshuffling of the leagues, and under the guidance of boss Alan Devonshire are surging up the table.

The former West Ham star has signed a number of ex Ks players and will hope to bring more consistency to his side in a bid to challenge the top teams.

Staines Town are also well placed in the Premier Division and manager Steve Cordery's reshaped team is capable of compting with Hampton for a promotion place.

Corinthian Casuals have had a fantastic season and have left the duldrums of 2003/2004 well behind them.

After spending most of the previous campaign in the bottom two places, they are now going strong and are odds on to claim their highest ever finish in the top six come July.

In contrast, Hellenic League side Hounslow Borough have had a disastrous year.

They have spent most of the time in the bottom half of the table and have averaged a new manager every three months! They currently have Steven McGrath as caretaker.