THE REAPPEARANCE of midfield favourite Steve Leigh in Newport IoW colours wasn't enough to ward off a 6-1 home collapse against Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday.

But upbeat manager John Linington is convinced there are better times around the corner for the rock-bottom Islanders - particularly if Leigh's old teammate Leigh Cole agrees to join the club this week.

Like Cole, Leigh has just parted company with Sussex outfit Chichester. And although his return coincided with what Linington described as "a hammering" against Tooting, the manager said: "Steve was outstanding for us and I think he'll help us a lot.

"Leigh Cole couldn't play because of an eye infection, but the two of them are good friends and now that Steve's here I'm hoping Coler will sign this week."

Newport opened brightly enough with Dave Greening twice missing out before John Hastings and Daniel Nwanze struck for Tooting.

Greening finally made it third time lucky when he lobbed keeper Aaron France for his eighth goal of the season, but the loss of injured defender Ollie Fleming added to Newport's problems as they were sunk by further goals from Kunle Adeoye (2), Nwanze and Daniel Lawson.

"They were a better side than us - but not as good as Leatherhead, who beat us last week," Linington observed.

"In the first half they had eight shots and scored four and we had six chances and scored one. We did OK but we didn't seem very zippy and we're a bit nave."

Fleet Town's home game against Ashford was postponed because the Kent side got caught up in a massive traffic jam on the M25 caused by a tanker accident.