New Vics manager Alex Smith faces a baptism of fire in his 1st game in charge at Beatrice Avenue against near-neighbours Newport on Boxing Day.
3rd-from-bottom Vics have been decimated by suspensions over recent weeks, with goalkeeper Alex Ram, captain Liam Newbold, and defenders Keelan Walsh and Harrison Berry all ineligible to play.
Vics have also lost 1 of their most highly rated senior players – Jordan Chapman – who has now signed for Newport.
However, Alex has managed to strengthen his squad by signing Tyler Greenslade (Vectis), Macauley Watterson (Shanklin), Billy Backshall (Cowes Sports), Lewis Parsons from Gosport U16s, and former Cowes Sports players Thomas Ashley, Ben Holdsworth and Fraser Law.
Vics’ biggest signing is Callum Chase from Pagham. Callum comes with a wealth of Wessex league experience, having formerly played for Newport and Cowes Sports.
Alex Smith is also seeking to strengthen his backroom staff and says he is seeking: “someone committed, passionate and positive”.
The new Vics manager – who will be hoping his side can secure only their 2nd win of the 2022/23 season – says:
“Since coming in last week I’ve been delighted with the attitude of the players, huge turnouts at training and players making the effort to buy into our new game model. It’ll take us a little while to get to where we’d like to be, but I’ve been lucky to inherit a passionate group that love the club and will strive to improve.
Article continues below this advertisement “Ryan Lacey has been superb in helping me settle in, and we’re confident in putting in a positive performance on Boxing Day.
“Newport are not the team we’d like to face least at all. They’ve put a decent team together that’s more than capable of automatic promotion, but just couldn’t get there. After falling short last year, they know they have to improve.
“We’re in the very early stages of a huge transitional period at Vics and are looking forward to the test. We’re the big underdogs and we’ll relish that – a performance that shows progress and that we can be proud of is the number 1 aim for us.
Newport currently lie in 4th place in Wessex Division 1. The County Town club are unbeaten in away league games this season. The Port won 0-3 at Millbrook in their last league fixture. They will travel to East Cowes without prolific striker Joe Butcher, who has a broken ankle.
The Boxing Day Derby between East Cowes Vics and Newport kicks off at the earlier time of 11:00.
