FRONTMAN Fraser Quirke's been unveiled as Barry Blankley's assistant Bashley boss ahead of tomorrow's final Eastern Division game at promotion-chasing Grantham.

The 35-year-old Navy physical training instructor has been promoted from player-coach to fill the void left by Pete Moore, who quit as joint manager last month.

Quirke, in his second spell with the New Forest club, returned to the Recreation Ground last summer from Newport IoW, initially as just a player.

When Bob Higgins succeeded Derek Binns as manager in the autumn, he became player-coach and has continued in that role.

Quirke has a UEFA B coaching badge and said: "It had always been part of my career plan to move into coaching and eventually get into management. With Pete moving on, a lot of people felt it was a logical progression for me to assist Barry."

Ex-Worthing striker Quirke originally joined Bashley under Blankley's previous reign having returned from two and a half years serving with the Navy and playing football in Hong Kong.

Blankley said: "Fraser's a smashing bloke, knows his football and, most importantly, he's got the respect of the players. He will still register as a player next season but, at 35, I think he is looking to take a step back."

The Foresters have had to beg another goalkeeping favour from Brockenhurst for the Grantham trip as Dorchester have recalled David Elm.

They're borrowing Brock res-erve keeper Andy Colverson having already used Steve Staples this season.

Dorchester's decision to recall Elm is a curious one since Gran-tham are their main rivals for runners-up spot in the Eastern Division. Blankley said: "You'd think they'd want to help us beat Grantham, but their first-choice keeper has got a slight strain and I can understand Mark Morris's (Dorchester boss) point of view."

Newport's matchday saviour Tony Mount has praised his patched-up heroes for giving the club a fighting chance of escaping the Premier Division drop zone. Despite a crippling injury list, the Islanders have taken eight from a possible 12 points to haul themselves out of the bottom four since Mount stepped back into management.

Steve Riley, John Price and Dave Wakefield are all out with long-term injuries, Lee Bradford has been playing on through the pain barrier of Achilles trouble and Steve Moss survived only ten minutes as a sub in Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Hinckley before limping off with a pulled hamstring.

Dave Wilson's calf strain will rule him out of another key survival clash at Ilkeston tomorrow and Danny Rofe hopes to recover from food poisoning.

"Full credit to the lads," said Mount. "We've been patching them up match after match, but they've given their all and shown a lot of guts. I've made big demands on them and they've responded with a high workrate in every game. It hasn't always been pretty, but we've proved we've got character, spirit and dogged determination."

Newport, who are travelling up tonight, have added young midfielders Adam Connor and Paul O'Connor to the squad.

Skipper Timmy Hambley ret-urns for Havant & Waterlooville at home to Worcester City having missed two games with ankle trouble. On the down side for the Hawks, Ben Price has had four stitches in a cut ankle and Shaun Gale is having treatment on a groin niggle.

Doomed Salisbury have a mammoth task on their hands at Tamworth, who are locked on level points with Kettering in a fascinating duel for the Premier Division crown.

The funeral service of former Salisbury stalwart Cyril Smith takes place at Salisbury Crematorium at 3.45pm on Monday and will be followed by a reception at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. All friends and acquaintances are welcome.