ASSISTANT manager Paul West takes charge of Evesham United when their Southern League Division One West campaign starts at home to Rothwell Town on Saturday, writes Mervyn Collins.

A long-standing holiday engagement will keep Dave Busst out of the action for the season's opening couple of weeks, but West revealed that the manager had left as plan of action.

"We'll be speaking over the phone this week," West revealed after Monday's 2-1 final warm-up win at Pilkington when Anthony Watson and Danny Williams were on target.

"Dave's left me his ideas on team selection and tactics but unfortunately we've picked up a couple of knocks and that's going to present a problem or two."

It's touch and go whether Andy Smith will make it on Saturday, but Marc Burrow's similar calf injury appears unlikely to heal in time for the opener.

"There's going to be a healthy competition for places and the fringe players are going to be very important throughout the season," the Common Road assistant admitted. "We've had a tough pre-season but we will only know how things are going around 5 o'clock on Saturday."

West revealed that Tim Clarke would be the club's No 1 goalkeeper, although Damien Quailey is still in United's plans. One player who isn't at present is Craig Pountney who has been loaned out to former club Studley.

Another ex Studley player Steve Hands is on holiday, but the Robins are well catered for in central defence with in the shape of Lee Knight, Linton Bailey, Stuart Hamilton and former Torquay stopper Dave Cairns.

A third former Studley man, Steve Duncan, is expected to take his place in midfield, while Lee Ross, Tobias McIntosh, Jermaine Clarke and Williams will be fighting for berths up front.

Other faces set to feature in a match to be handled by Amy Rayner, are Watson, Grant Pinkney, Leon Blake, Leon Thomas and Gavin O'Toole.

Saturday's match is being sponsored by Cots-wold Provisions and the match ball by Evesham High Street jewellers W G Margetson.

The Robins visit Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday night for a 7.45pm kick-off.

The club's youth team is in action at Worcester City on the same night in the opening Midland Floodlit Youth League outing (7.45pm).