WORCESTER City's new player-manager Andy Preece has vowed to give every player an opportunity to prove their worth to the club.

Preece held out an olive branch to City's underperforming squad as he looks to revive the side's flagging Nationwide North season, starting with today's clash with leaders Southport at St George's Lane.

The 37-year-old striker, who admitted on his first day in charge to not having seen any of City's players in action, does not anticipate carving up his inherited squad to draft in new names.

"I've got no pre-conceived ideas about anybody", said Preece. "I'm going to give everybody their opportunity and they'll show me whether they deserve to be here.

"It's going to take about a month for me to really get to know everybody. I think I'll have a good time to assess things from now until the end of the season and what I need for next season.

"If they get back to what they were playing at the start of the season, there won't be a need for too many changes.

"I look at everybody on their merits. As manager, you do have difficult decisions to make and you have to be brave enough to make those.

"Perhaps there are players that people think should not be here. But in four or five weeks, they might be saying, 'Oh my God, I'm glad they did not get rid of him.'

Preece added: "I won't be making any decisions now unless players come up to me and say they want to go. If that's their attitude, then obviously there would be no point in keeping unhappy players.

"I can't see me bringing in more than maybe two or three players. It is not like seven or eight suddenly arriving. The budget is not there to do that."

Preece earned a reputation during his four years as Bury's player-boss for bringing on a long list of talented youngsters.

However, the former Stockport and Blackpool forward has said the secret to success at the Lane is finding the perfect blend of youth and experience.

Preece added: "It is important we have young players but it's getting the balance right."