Lewer reunion

9:10am Friday 1st February 2008

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WEYMOUTH have snapped up Cambridge United assistant-manager Alan Lewer.

The 51-year-old worked alongside Terras boss John Hollins at Crawley Town two years ago and the Chelsea legend is delighted to have him on board.

Hollins said: "Alan and I were born in the same area in Guildford. We have always met up to go scouting and watch games and we both went for the Crawley job at the same time.

"The club ended up asking us to work together and once we got into that we found we worked as a team really well. We were asked to knock it into shape and now it is a survived club."

Hollins has also released on-loan pair Adam Gross and Wilfried Domoraud, and trialist Chris Saunders. He said: "Adam and Wilfried's loans were both up anyway and I wanted to cut down the size of the squad.

"I also want the players to know who they are competing against for a place and what we are trying to do. We have had a couple of good sessions this week and I think everyone has been watching and learning which is good.

"We have still got three experienced players out in Ashley Vickers, Simon Weatherstone and Nick Crittenden, which was one of the problems Jason Tindall had, and it is important we get them back fit."

The Terras did make enquiries about a "big centre forward" earlier this week but their interest did not come to fruition.

Hollins added: "The player had already spoken to someone else and gone but like I said we have some good players to come back and we also have six emergency loans left if we lose a keeper or someone in another vital position."

Hollins could not have asked for tougher opponents for his first game in charge tomorrow. The Terras travel to Ebbsfleet United in the third round of the FA Trophy very much the underdogs.

The Fleet have not only won their last five games but their home form is impressive as well. Out of the 16 competitive fixtures played at Stonebridge Road this season the hosts have been victorious in 12 of them, including a 4-1 success over the Terras last month.

There is also likely to be some familiar faces in the Kent outfit's squad tomorrow. Former Wey-mouth strikers Chukki Eribenne and Raphael Nade both netted for the reserves in a county cup triumph over Dartford on Tuesday and will no doubt be keen to face some of their former team-mates.

Hollins said: "Their current form is great and that is why we won't be taking them lightly. We know it is going to be a battle and we have got to make sure we are ready for one. If we are not we could get a shock as we did the last time the lads went there. It is important they learn from that."

Narada Bernard could feature after a long lay-off with an ankle injury while Justin Roberts is a doubt. Paolo Vernazza is suspended.

Hollins said: "It would be a bit of a risk to play Narada but he is back in training. As for Justin he has had a bit of an illness so we cannot afford to run him into the ground too much."

It appears Marcus Browning, who will remain a player-coach despite Lewer's appointment, will be handed the captain's armband tomorrow. Hollins said: "At the moment the club captain is Simon Weatherstone but on the pitch at this time it is Marcus.

"It is vital he stays fit and playing, and I have already made it clear to him that I do not want him to overdo things."