FRANCIS Vines says he views Basingstoke Town FC as a sleeping giant and is excited about the challenge of waking the dormant club from its slumber after a dream start on Saturday.

Vines was officially appointed new manager last Monday after Ernie Howe's shock departure last weekend - and his tenure began in style with a 4-0 away thumping of Yeading to ease Town's Nationwide South relegation fears.

The ex-Crawley boss, who is a postman, was delighted with the result - and he is eager to rise to the challenge in his new role in non-league football.

He says it "only took a few minutes" to agree to become the club's new manager after he met with the board of directors to discuss the appointment, which is for this season and next on a part-time basis.

The board wanted Vines to replace Howe because of his record of eight senior trophies and a promotion to the Conference in his two-and-a-half years with Crawley before he was sacked last October.

Vines, who sees many similarities between the two clubs, told The Gazette: "This is Crawley Town six years ago. It's waiting to happen.

"The size of the towns are very similar - Basingstoke is a little bigger. A little bit of success got the crowds at Crawley up to 500-600 and we got even more people supporting the club as that success continued.

"So if we can achieve what they achieved, we will do really well. It might take a little bit longer than it took at Crawley, but it will not be for the want of trying.

"Only winning will do it - but I am a winner and that is what I will be instilling in my players. Winning is a habit I want to instil because it hasn't been happening here."

After what Vines revealed had been a "very hectic week", where he has been getting used to his fresh role and signed six players, he was pleased to get Saturday's game played and won.

He said: "I am pleased for the players more than myself - they have started well today. But that is all it is - a start. And if they think any other way, they are mistaken. I expect this sort of commitment and work-rate every week now."

Vines was able to make six new signings before Friday's transfer deadline because Argentinians Miguel-Angel Basualdo and Pablo Pedrotti have been released, while Scott Smith's departure a week ago also freed up some funds.

"It was what we had to do to generate finances for signings," said the new boss. "They (the Argentinians) might be good players but, at this moment in time, we don't have the time for them to adapt or play their way into the league."

The new players are:

central-midfielder Jamie Gosling, from Forest Green Rovers

right-back Matt Ottley, from Molsey

ex-Town midfielder Nathan Stamp, who returns to the Camrose to link up with brother Neville once more after spells at Maidenhead and Chesham

striker Giuseppe Sole, and midfielder Jerome Maledon, from Woking

central defender Nick Beasant, son of soccer legend Dave, and once of Wycombe.

Talking about some of them, Vines said: "Matt was with me at Crawley, so is a player I know well. He has that grit and fight about him that we need at this moment, given the league position.

"Jamie was at Aldershot and played in the play-off final but has, I feel, lost his way a little bit since then. He needs a bit of TLC and that's what he'll be given, because he is a good player. You saw today how comfortable he is on the ball - how he keeps it and strings passes together.

"I was very pleased with Giuseppe today - he scored a great goal and worked very hard - while Jerome is a young lad I have had great reports about, so, once we are safe, he is someone I will be having a little look at."

Vines, 43, said he has no managerial philosophy or role-model but said he likes to have a bubbly dressing room and still be part of one, having only recently stopped playing himself.

Vines, who promoted Steve Richardson from coach to become his assistant - "I think he deserved the opportunity to be closer to the top" - admitted the manner of his appointment was not one under which he would have chosen to start.

He added: "The sad thing is for me to get back into the game and back into football, someone had to be sacked or leave their job.

"Ernie is a great manager, but for me to get a job in football it was one of those things that happens."

First published: Monday, April 3, 2006