A SHAKE up of Worcester City's reserve set-up could pay dividends for the first team according to manager Geoff Ashby.

The reserve boss is approaching the new season with greater enthusiasm than normal after the club's decision to switch from the Central Conference to the Midland Combination Reserve Division.

In simple terms it means his side will have twice as many games to play with regular games at St George's Lane on Saturday afternoons when the firsts are away.

In addition Ashby is to see his squad boosted with second years from the club's academy system included in his selection plans as well as first team fringe players and potential trialists.

"The standard is not going to be as good as the Central Conference but at least they will be playing every week," said Ashby.

"Last year we had just 14 or so games which was a waste of time.

"This time we are going to have around 30 games which is ideal and gives players a chance for a proper run out and also the opportunity to give trialists a go.

"I'm really looking forward to it and after a disappointing last couple of seasons we have got something to really get our teeth into.

"Last year we were sometimes going three or four weeks without a game which is no good to anybody."

Ashby's main aim is to find players for the first team, if not higher after already helping one young player find his feet in the Football League.

Sixteen-year-old Mark Goodman, who has signed a three-year deal with Coventry City, played several games for the reserves as a 15-year-old and Ashby remembers being impressed by the youngster. "He played for the reserves for two or three months and we would just bring him on for the last 10-20 minutes and I thought at aged 15 this kid is not bad," he recollects.

"I saw him play in his own age group and he stuck out like a sore thumb and I would like to think we did a little bit to help him on his way and that he benefited from playing at a higher level in the reserves."

For Ashby's current crop of youngsters playing in an adult league can do nothing but good and as he says: "we're not in it to win it but to get as many players into the first team as possible."