NEW Downton boss Jeff Softley hopes he can make as big an impact as a Wessex League manager as his old Bemerton sidekick Brian Le Boutillier.

The pair jointly ran the reserves at Western Way until Le Boutillier landed the manager's job at Andover nearly a year ago.

Under Softley's charge the Harlequins' second string went on to win the 2003/4 Wessex Combination title - and now he too has made the break into first-team management, succeeding Mitch Blake at bottom-of-the-table Downton.

Softley said: "This will be my first experience of managing in the Wessex League and I hope I'll do as well as Brian has at Andover. I spoke to him last Sunday and he was very knowledgeable in what he had to say. He's someone I've got a lot of respect for.

"People see managing Downton as an impossible job, but I think Brian's task at Andover was harder in a way because they were already successful.

"Downton are bottom of the table and at least I know we can only go forward."

Blake, a former Saints goalkeeping coach, has no regrets about leaving after three seasons at the Wick Lane helm.

He explained: "Steve (assistant manager Steve Adlam) and I always said we'd stay for four years and leave them in a better position than we'd found them in. We ended up doing three years and two months - which isn't bad, kept them in the top flight of the Wessex against all odds and signed some good players.

"But in the end we felt we weren't getting the full support of everyone at the club and it was time to go.

"At Downton everyone's got to pull together, but it might just have been me who was getting in the way.

"We'd taken the club as far as we could and there's no point outstaying your welcome."

In Softley, Blake reckons Downton have found the right man to replace him. He said: "He's one of the lads who's done well in the local area and I wish him all the very best."

Having been a spectator at Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at AFC Newbury, Softley kicks off his Downton reign at home to newly-promoted VT FC tomorrow.

He forecast: "It's going to be a tough one. I always thought the old Hampshire Premier was a big step away from the Wessex, but VT are doing really well. They're a big, strong side, so it'll be interesting."

l Hamble ASSC have lodged notice of approach with Fleet Town for their former midfielder/defender Lewis Johnson and hope to have him back on duty for tomorrow's home game against Hamworthy.

l Christchurch are still without key players for tomorrow's visit of Thatcham with both defender James Baker and midfielder Ross Edwards away.

Oakhampton-based Bournemouth University student Richard Bentley returns up front, but he has been unavailable for midweek games. Priory have only four points on the board and manager Pete Moore said: "The loss of key players has been hurting us - particularly in defence. We badly miss James Baker."