HE may not be in Matthew Le Tissier's class, but AFC Totton are relieved to have landed Ben Thomson in time for tomorrow night's big Jewson Wessex League summit meeting at Eastleigh.

While the big-spending Ten Acres hosts are ready to wheel in Le God for his JWL debut, Totton boss Ian Robinson has helped ease his injury crisis by signing Ashurst lad Thomson for an undisclosed fee from Bashley.

Like Le Tiss, Thomson is something of a free spirit and can operate effectively either up front, in midfield or out wide.

Robinson has a left-sided role in mind for the 25-year-old former Hounsdown Schoolboy who, two years ago, impressed in trials for AFC Bournemouth while knocking in goals right, left and centre for Brockenhurst.

Conference outfit Farnborough were also among his admirers, but Thomson ended up on the Southern League circuit playing for Bashley and then Newport IoW.

Neither club brought the best out of him and, having returned to Bash during the summer, he struggled to pin down a regular first-team place.

Robinson said: "I can only relate to what I saw of Ben when he was playing for Brockenhurst, but he was head and shoulders above anything else in the Wessex League.

"I think he went to a higher level too early and has lost some of his appetite for the game, but if we can rekindle his enthusiasm then we'd love to be the shop window for him if he wants to move up again."

Totton have also signed right-sided player Chris Marwood from Brockenhurst, but he is unavailable tomorrow because of university commitments in London.

Glen Maidment has climbed aboard from BAT and Robinson is still trying to bring Eastleigh's out-of-favour defender Darren Curtis back to Testwood Park.

Of Totton's walking wounded, only Matt Parnell has a chance of returning tomorrow night. Dylan Pearson, Stuart Ritchie, Scott Bundy and Ross Thurston are all still sidelined having missed Saturday's disappointing 5-1 FA Vase exit at St Blazey.

JWL outfit AFC Newbury are in the hunt for a new manager following the resignation of Andy Lyne after two seasons in charge.

The former Witney Town boss has called it a day after a run of poor results which culminated in a deeply depressing 3-0 defeat by Downton ten days ago.

Lyne said: "After much deliberation and meeting with the chairman, I've decided it's in the best interests of the club to have a change of manager."

At the start of the season, Newbury were being hailed as potential champions but things have gone badly awry since then and they slipped into mid-table obscurity.

Chairman Steve Hartley said: "After such a promising start to the season I am disappointed that Andy has decided to resign, but he believes this is the best way forward for the club and I respect his decision."

A caretaker boss will be put in charge for tomorrow's Basingstoke Senior Cup tie at Winchester City.

Don't miss the Pink every Saturday for three pages of news from the Dr Martens, Wessex and Hampshire Leagues, plus reports from that afternoon's main matches.