JOHN Linington is preparing to meet his Newport IoW critics head on at St George's Park tomorrow night.

The Port boss has come in for a barrage of criticism from sections of the club's supporters who fear the Islanders are on the slippery slope back to the Sydenhams Wessex League.

Saturday's 2-1 reverse at Leatherhead was their tenth defeat in 15 Ryman Division 1 outings and there have been accusations from fans that the club and the team are badly organised.

Given Newport's tight financial restraints following their plunge into receivership last season, Linington has never promised miracles.

But, despite a tough start to the season, he remains convinced that his low-budget, all-Island side will escape relegation and is looking forward to facing his critics at a club forum after training tomorrow evening.

Also present will be Port's directors, assistant manager Roger McCormack, coach Steve Brougham and coach/physio Tony Harris.

Linington said: "There's a bit of bitterness about the place at the moment and we've got people attacking us, saying we need a change of manager and asking what the club directors are doing about the situation.

"We're opening it up to the fans come and ask us whatever questions they want, but what can we do if none of them is prepared to help out or put their hands in their pockets?

"People are moaning about players not coming to training, but they're not on contract and we can't dictate their lives. In the old days of contract players, you could fine them a week's wages of around £150, but what do we do now, fine them a tenner?"

"When we train on our own pitch, the numbers are fairly good in any case. We average around 15-17."

As for organisation, Linington believes the club are in as a good a shape as they've ever been. He said: "The only obvious difference is that the standard of player is not there, but there's nothing we can do about that on our budget.

"First and foremost we're there to keep the club going. If we go down, we go down, but I don't reckon we will.

"There are a lot poorer teams in this league than us."

Linington's young guns have been handed a tough away tie at Aldershot Town in the last eight of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

THE FULL DRAW IS: Aldershot Town v Newport IoW, Bashley v Alton Town, Farnborough Town v Moneyfields, Havant & Waterlooville v Gosport Borough, Liss Athletic v Andover, Lymington & New Milton v Basingstoke Town, Stockbridge v Christchurch, Winchester City v Romsey Town.

Bashley manager Geoff Butler goes into tonight's home showdown with Horsham sporting an extra feather in his cap.

The ex-Salisbury and Weymouth boss has been voted Ryman Division 1 manager-of-the-month for October after leading his side to a 100 per cent league record last month.

Yeading's Johnson Hippolyte lifted the Premier Division award for the second month running.