BASHLEY have responded to Salisbury City's interest in defender Aaron Cook by appointing him as skipper.
Craig Davis, the last owner of the captain's armband, joined Salisbury in a £15,000 move last weekend and Bash boss John Robson is determined that Cook will not follow him to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Confirming Salisbury had enquired after Cook, Robson said: "They've got no chance. Aaron's happy where he is.
"Cookies' a quality player and he led by example in Tuesday's friendly against Lymington & New Milton. The two young lads I brought in on trial, Matty Graves and John Dixon, both said that Aaron and Andy Darnton chatted to them all the time. Cooky's very much a thinker, but he can do the talking too."
Dixon, who took a bad knock on the ankle late in the game, will be invited back for further trials along with Salisbury midfielder/frontman Reza Sotoudeh.
Graves put in an impressive 90 minutes at left-back and, with Graeme Gee taking a knock on his ankle, the former Wealdstone man could well sit on the bench at home to Folkestone Invicta tomorrow.
Stuart Hussey had a 20-minute run-out after nearly a year sidelined with knee trouble, but defender Mark Jones had a recurrence of a stomach/groin strain in the warm-up and is out of tomorrow's game. "This injury keeps cropping up and we've got to find out what it is," vowed Robson.
Eastleigh have giant goalkeeper Colin Matthews free from a three-match suspension for tomorrow's home match against Fisher, but they lose ex-Saints Nicky Banger and Phil Warner to two-match bans.
Matthews' return presents manager Paul Doswell with a selection headache because ex-Totton and Lymington favourite Wayne Shaw has performed so solidly in his absence.
"Colin's my number one and I rate him the best keeper around, but if he gets himself sent off for something silly then it does give me a bit of a dilemma," said the boss. "Wayne's a brilliant bloke and he's come in and done ever so well."
Eastleigh, now fourth following Histon's midweek win at Sittingbourne, have Kevin Gibbens, David Hughes, Robbie Chamberlain and, possibly, Paul Sales back available, but Danny Woods is still out with long-term Achilles trouble.
Doswell has opted against signing Wayne Noad from Molesey because the former Fleet and Basingstoke utility man wanted too much money, but ex-Saint Shayne Bradley is due to train with the squad on Tuesday.
Newport IOW - away to Corby Town tomorrow - have got back to winning ways this week against Hastings and Salisbury.
Manager Steve Tate has not been bowled over by the performances, but said: "It doesn't matter how badly you play, winning breeds confidence and my forwards are scoring, so I've got to be happy. It's important we carry it on at Corby."
Fast-improving Fleet travel to rock-bottom Chatham Town having moved up to 17th on the back of a 3-0 midweek success Hastings.
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