FIXTURE nightmare club Newport have gambled by switching from home to away against Histon this Saturday in the Dr Martens Eastern Division.

With bucketloads more rain on the cards and little prospect of getting the scheduled match played at St George's Park, the Islanders will travel to Cambridgeshire for the away fixture instead.

"Histon have only had one postponement all season when there were four inches of snow on the pitch, so it's much more likely we'll get a game on up there," explained Islanders' boss Tony Mount.

"I don't want to go to Histon because we need the revenue of a home fixture, but there is rain predicted every day on the Island and no way can I see it going ahead.

"We're so far behind with our fixtures that it's important we get a game played. Mind you, it's a gamble because if the game is postponed at Histon then we'd have to travel up there in midweek."

With 11 games already postponed this season, Newport find themselves in the unbelievable position of having no fixture scheduled for Saturday week because of Ashford's involvement in the Trophy.

The only other free team, Witney Town, have so far refused to play ball with Newport's request for a game.

"We're hoping the league will discuss it with Witney but league secretary Dennis Strudwick reckons he can't force them to play us," sighed Mount. "Surely it's a matter of commonsense that we bring forward the home fixture from April or, if they prefer, we wouldn't mind going up there."

* Mark Chamberlain's second spell as manager of Fareham will now begin this Saturday at home to Newbury following the postponement of last night's scheduled clash with Bemerton due to a waterlogged Cams Alders pitch.