MATCH PREVIEW: Reds hoping for a fresh start

Reds have been playing without a permanent manager in recent weeks, following the departure of Darren Edmondson a month ago.

But our opponents have also been operating under similar circumstances with both Whitehaven (Cumberland Cup) and Stocksbridge Park Steels (NPL) also ‘managerless’ at the time.

It should be pointed out that Hyde United do have a managerial team in place but Martin Coyne, Harry Bunn and Co are relatively new to the job having taken over from the Nick Spooner regime about a month ago.

Now, twenty-five years after making his debut as a player for Reds, Billy Barr is about to take charge of the team for the first time. Appointed on Tuesday, and in charge of just the two sessions since then, it might be too much to expect an immediate change in fortunes but if the players can replicate the spirit and commitment shown at Stocksbridge we have a slight chance of landing that elusive first home win of the season.

Billy (centre) in action for Reds twenty-five years ago.

Hyde are currently 10th in the Premier Division table with 21 points accumulated from six wins and three draws. Eight of those points have been obtained on the road thanks to two wins and two draws.

Workington climbed off the foot of the table last week thanks to that second away win but still have only nine points to their credit.

Billy has seen the team in action recently, and will have plans to add to the squad in due course, but with two players still suspended and the odd injury still to contend with the squad will more or less pick itself for Saturday.

Steven Rigg in action

Back in March, a Connor Pani goal was enough to get the better of Hyde at Borough Park but that was our first success against the Tigers in ten outings.

They have an excellent record in Cumbria, amassing no fewer than nine victories in twenty visits to the town, so a tough start for the new manager and his staff.

Kick-off: 3pm