Watson is without long-term casualties Steve Soley (groin) and Lee Ashcroft (hamstring). Top scorer Ashcroft could be out for six weeks, leaving Watson short of strikers with Andy Whittaker out on loan for a month at Kendal Town.

Also sidelined are winger Mark Byrne, defenders Danny Stone and Paul Haddow out with a virus. That leaves the squad paper thin on Port players as they drop down like nine pins.

The new manager and his assistant have now had three matches to evaluate their squad's strengths and weaknesses.

On Tuesday night, Liam Watson gave a first team to PASE player Tony Evans, coming off the bench put in an encouraging display in the later stages.

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Ashcroft, with 9 goals this season was forced to be replaced after only 11 minutes in Saturday’s victory at Frickley Athletic.

Despite winning without their influential play-maker at the weekend, the Sandgrounders have only won 4 out of the 10 games in which Ashcroft has not scored. Second top scorer is Peter Thomson with only 4 goals, followed by Lee Mulvaney with 3. Fellow striker, Peter Wright, an ever-present this season only has a disappointing 2 goals to his name.

Ashcroft picked up an original in the defeat at Lancaster City on 7th October, however was able to make a quick return against Frickley Athletic but this threatening blow, if not dealt with accordingly will possibly end any hopes of catching up with the leading pack of the UniBond Premier League.

Captain, Steve Soley also victim of a groin problem will also miss Tuesday’s trip to Altrincham but may be in contention against Worksop on Saturday. Mark Byrne, who limped off against Radcliffe did not feature on Saturday at Frickley and may be out for another week again with hamstring trouble.

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In a statement in Friday’s reserve programme, reserve team secretary John Wood said: ‘Paul has now left the Club, having looked after the Reserve team for the early part of this season. Paul is thanked for all his enthusiasm during what proved to be a difficult period for the Reserves, and is whished every success for the future.’

Moore, who was the goalkeeper for the Sandgrounders when they won the Northern Premier League in 1992/1993, re-joined the Sandgrounders at the back end of last season teaming up as goalkeeping coach as was put in charge of the ‘Port second string side at the beginning of this season. However, despite not being the main concern, results and performances were very inconsistent, loosing 5-2 and 7-1 to Burscough and Morecambe respectively but also put 7 past Conference side Northwich and beat Guisley 6-0.

Moore had brought a number of players with him from the Liverpool College and did not put as much emphasis on the progression of the club’s own youth and PASE teams. This was highlighted when 9 players were released following the departure of Mike Walsh.

PASE coach Tony Rodwell took temporary charge of the reserves on Friday night, however saw a very inexperienced side loose 4-0 to Conference new boys Accrington. The side featured 2 16-year olds and the 15 of the 16 man squad were aged under 18. This move was described by John Wood as ‘reverting back to our former youth policy.’

Rodwell is understood to be the favourite for the reserve job, but only remains in temporary charge.

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Watson said: "I have taken Barry Jones off the transfer list. I felt he was our best player last Saturday and he can play in a number of positions. Barry never wanted to leave Haig Avenue, what is in the past has nothing to do with me, I want the best play-ers at his club and Barry is pleased to have the matter sorted."

Watson added: "The training has gone really well. Lee Ash-croft should be available, he came through Tuesday night's session. Everyone appeared to enjoy the training.

"I have played with or against most of the players in our squad and have told them they have real quality. It is up to them to prove themselves in the week's ah ead , th ey have th e opportunity."

The new manager has been able to have two training sessions with his new charges this week and begin to input his footballing philosophy. Selection revolves around the two suspended players last week and can they force their way into a winning side.

Midfielder Steve Pickford missed last Saturday's victory over Radcliffe due to a one match suspension and is now available again while top scorer Lee every croft was also suspended last weekend as he had also picked up five bookings this season.

However Ashcroft is likely to miss a second consecutive match due to injury having suffered a hamstring strain early on at Lancaster City. Definitely ruled out is right winger Mark Byrne who limped off last Saturday mid way through the second half sustaining a hamstring injury that will rule him out for at least a fort-see night with physio Bret Harris overworked with hamstring injuries at present.

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Jones was told he was surplus to requirements at Southport by former manager Mike Walsh who was unhappy at a number of below par performances, however new boss Watson has acted quickly to make the first major decision at Haig Avenue.

Jones had been a regular in the centre of defence under managers Phil Wilson who brought him to Southport from York City and Mike Walsh at the end of last season and at the beginning of this. The former York skipper, who has made over 100 football league appearances in his professional career has been a rock in the Southport back-line since his arrival in 2001, making his a favorite with the Southport fans.

The 33-year old has played in a back 3 and a central pairing and last week proved his versatility last weekend against Radcliffe Borough when he made an impressive display in the centre of midfield. A performance which caught the eye of new manager Liam Watson. 'I have taken Barry Jones off the transfer list. I felt he was our best player last Saturday and he can play in a number of positions. Barry never wanted to leave Haig Avenue, what is in the past has nothing to do with me, I want the best players at his club and Barry is pleased to have the matter sorted.'

Jones has certainly proved his hunger and passion to wear the shirt of Southport, something which has been lacking from many members of the team in recent weeks and will be included in the squad to face Frickley tomorrow, leaving new boss Liam Watson with competition in a number of positions ahead of a crucial month of football.

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Colne are currently top of the Counties Second Division and will be using this match as a chance to prove themselves against a well regarded name such as Southport and see how much progression they have made. They are currently one point above Great Harwood Town, the side the Sandgrounders demolished 4-1 at the same stage of the competition last season. The ‘Port went on to loose to UniBond League champions Accrington Stanley, now plying their trade in the Nationwide Conference.

The tie will be played in the week commencing the 9th November and will take place at Haig Avenue. Last season, Conference side Leigh RMI won the competition, beating UniBond League Division One side Kendal Town in the final. Both sides have received byes into the next round along with Accrington Stanley, Chorley and Clitheroe.

Below is the draw in full:

Atherton Collieries v Radcliffe Borough
Bacup Borough v Holker Old Boys
Blackpool Mechanics v Atherton LR
Darwen FC v Squires Gate
Fleetwood Town v Burscough
Great Harwood Town v Lancaster City
Marine v Bamber Bridge
Morecambe v Rossendale United
Padiham FC v Nelson FC
Ramsbottom United v Barrow
SOUTHPORT v Colne FC

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Over the past few seasons the reserve side has played a huge part in the footballing education of players such as Lee Mulvaney and Liam McGuire who have found themselves regulars in first team squads and ironically, a number of players which won the Lancashire Reserve league in 1999/2000 went on to play for new ‘Port boss Liam Watson at Runcorn.

Matty McGinn, Ged Courtney, Tom Spearitt and Adam Carden were all part of the Runcorn side which beat Southport 3-0 at Haig Avenue earlier this season after regular appearances in the ‘Port second team.

The PASE scheme emphasises the club’s philosophy of home grown talent. Established in 2001, it is two year course for teenagers from 16 to 18 who have had been on the books of football league clubs or represented their counties. Although no player has broken into the first team as yet, the results of this recently introduced system are beginning to show, with a number of players having broken into the reserve team.

Southport have 2 PASE teams, one is run in conjunction with the local KGV college team under the management of former Sandgrounders and Marine defender John Gautrey and the other is under the guidance Rodwell. The teams have made very good impressions in their league, holding their own against more established and experienced sides and the scheme looks to have been a wise investment by chairman Clapham.

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Watson moves straight into the spotlight with tomorrow's home match against Radcliffe Borough.

Chairman Charlie Clapham said: "This is an appointment not just for today but for the future. We are all ambitious together and I know our new, bright ambitious management team will inject new vitality into Southport Football Club as a whole.

"This is a brave appointment, we had a number of high profile players and managers apply but we have gone for youthful experience and Liam's very good grounding in the UniBond. "He is keen to see the club progress back into the Conference and, in the long-term, regain our Football League status.

"Everyone wants to enjoy being part of Southport Football Club, whether a regular supporter on the terraces, in the stand, or at board level. I believe this appointment will give us that enjoyment."

Former Preston captain Neil Whalley comes in as assistant manager. He was Watson's assistant at Runcorn.

Both are qualified UEFA coaches and over the next few weeks they will be looking at the whole structure of the club.

Watson, a one-time £60,000 signing from Warrington to Preston before injury wrecked his professional career, is used to working on a low budget and Southport fans will remember earlier this season when Runcorn beat the Port 3-0 with a team consisting of several former Soutphort reserves.

Southport's team news revolves around suspensions, with Visiter Rewardaward player of the season leader and Port top scorer Lee Ashcroft out for one match. Also out after picking up five bookings is central midfielder Steve Pickford.

With those two key players ruled out selection is ultra difficult with a positive result so important to keep on the shirt tails of the Unibond league leaders.

Steve Soley remains an absentee with hamstring problems while caretaker boss Tony Hesketh agreed this week to allow striker Andy Whittaker to go on a month's loan to Kendall Town, for whom he made his debut on Tuesday night.

Fixture changes: Southport travel to Frickley on Saturday, October 25, leaving Saturday, December 6 blank. Frickley will now conclude the season at Haig Avenue on Saturday, April 24.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

The 33-year old has departed from his post as manager of fellow UniBond League Premier Division club Runcorn FC Halton to take up the reigns at Haig Avenue. Watson was appointed manager at the Halton Stadium in September 2000 as his first managerial job and lead the Linets to a 3-0 victory at Haig Avenue on September 9th of this year.

Watson has worked on a shoe-string budget at Runcorn and led them to a 13th place finish in the UniBond Premiership last season. He leaves with them in 15th place in the league, 4 points behind the Sandgrounders and saw them progress into the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup following a 5-4 win on penalties over Dr. Martin’s Premier League side Nuneaton.

Despite being experienced in managerial terms, Watson is one of the most renowned and respected players in non-league football. His playing career came mostly at the lower levels of the football pyramid and his clubs include Maghull, Warrington Town, Marine, Witton Albion, Accrington Stanley and 2 spells at Runcorn, which he still fulfilled this season in a player-manager capacity making a substitute appearance in September’s match at Southport.

Watson will bring with his assistant from the Halton Stadium, Neil Whalley, another former Deepdale player. Watson beat off several experienced candidates such as current caretaker Tony Hesketh who stepped into the reigns after Mike Walsh’s departure after meeting with 'Port chairman Charlie Clapham along with the 5 other applicants last week.

In the young Runcorn side are a number of former Southport players who Watson has managed to gel together. Kevin Leadbetter, Tom Spearitt, Marry McGinn, Adam Carden and Ged Courtney are all young, promising players who have progressed up the ranks at Haig Avenue before Watson gave them their break at Runcorn.

This story, released by Southport.gb.com on Thursday night was confirmed by the club on Friday morning.

In a statement released on Friday moring, Chairman, Charlie Clapham said: "A brave appointment - we have opted for youth and exuberance plus Unibond experience. We could have gone down the high profile, ex-player route with plenty of applications from that sector, but the Board believes that Liam, and his assistant Neil Whalley, will give the Club stability and success over the long term which we all recognise is something we need".

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However, the complications don’t end there! Instead, Southport will travel to Frickley Athletic on Saturday 25th November as they have no FA Cup commitments either. This fixture was originally set to be played on the last day of the season (24th March) however, it was in the best interest of both clubs to play the fixture on this date. The ‘Port were set to play Frickley at Haig Avenue on 6th December, however will now be played on 24th March.

Just to confirm:

Sat 25 Oct – (A) Frickley Athletic
Sat 24 Apr – (H) Frickley Athletic
TBC – (A) Gainsborough Trinity

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Whittaker first came to light in the UniBond League with Kendel in the early 1990's after impressing at Bamber Bridge. His career then lead him to Barrow before 2 spells at Southport, but since his return, Whittaker who netted 76 goals in his first spell at Haig Avenue has found it difficult to force his way into the first team and has only one start to his name.

The striker has made 8 substitute appearances, however has failed to find the form which made his such a favorite with the 'Port fans in his original period.

Whittaker, 35 signed on a free from Lancaster City in the summer after finishing 2nd top scorer in the UniBond Premier Division last term with 36 goals. He has only one to his name this term, after he came off the bench against Whitby back in August.

The loan, initially for a month will give Whittaker a chance of first team football, a chance he has not had at Haig Avenue with 5 other players able to play upfront

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Bradford, the side Southport beat last Saturday took the lead after half an hour when James Stansfield, however, with 8 minutes managerless Vauxhall equalised when the prolific Terry Fearns netted to ensure a replay on Tuesday night.

The date for the re-arranged fixture is yet to be announced. The Sandgrounders are at home next Saturday (18th October) when Radcliffe Borough are the visitors. Striker Lee Ashcroft will be suspended for that match, however the midweek break will mean the ‘Port’s playmaker will miss less games with a troublesome injury.

Port Pie understands the club interviewed a number of applicants for the vacant manager's job last weekend when there was no fixture for the first team and the club are hoping to have a permanent replacement for Mike Walsh for the Radcliffe Borough match.

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Chairman Charlie Clapham speaking to the Visiter this week said: "We have received a considerable number of quality applications with a range of experiences, all ambitious and optimistic for the future of Southport Football Club.

"The achievements of some applicants is quite astounding, while others are looking to get onto the management ladder after very successful playing careers.

"The calibre of applicant is very high and interviews will be taking place in the coming days. It again indicates how big Southport Football club is, and its potential, that we are attracting such a talented field.

"Interviews will be held and in due process an appointment to take the club forward again will be made. It will take time."

The post is one of the most sought after on the non-league circuit with the aim of the new incumbent of, firstly, stabilising the club in what next season will be the Nationwide Conference Northern section or, who knows, putting an immediate run together and still lifting the Unibond title this season.

But on current form that seems unrealistic without a complete over-haul of the current squad assuming players of quality in certain positions can be brought in immediately.

That may be too big a task and a longer term objective may be more realistic. Whoever does come in will have the scope to bring in new faces to the playing staff and wheel and deal to release those who do not fit the new plans.

Currently on the transfer list is Barry Jones, while Steve Soley is again sidelined for a lengthy period.

Whoever takes up the mantle has to make the Football League a realistic dream by returning to the Nationwide Conference quickly - a status lost so disastrously last season. The potential at Southport is not just all talk, despite last season's last day relegation stunner at Stevenage.

Those are the possibilities the new manager must entertain. Task one, which is huge, is to get back into the Nationwide Conference which is primarily now a full-time league.

With no match this Saturday, team news for Tuesday's home match against Vauxhall Motors centres around two Port suspensions.

Lee Ashcroft is ruled out due to both suspension and injury and Steve Pickford serves a one match ban after the duo picked up five bookings.

More worryingly is that top scorer Ashcroft limped off after just seven minutes at the Giant Axe with a hamstring problem. Physio Bret Harris is treating the key Port playmaker and any lengthy absence will hit the squad hard. Southport Reserves are at home to Chorley tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

Hesketh has had a great deal to do in 48 hours of upheaval at Haig Avenue. A number of home truths were discussed in the dressing room and the chairman's highly critical programme notes pointed the finger at the club's players for the untimely departure of Mike Walsh.

The scathing impact was there for everyone to see, with fire, spirit and commitment evident throughout Tuesday night's over-physical Unibond clash.

Hesketh reflected after the match: "It has been a very emotional 48 hours and the lads worked their hearts out. We defended very well against a barrage of aerial threats.

"Lee Ashcroft took his free-kick superbly. We created chances with the ball zipping across the box and on another day we would have gone further ahead.

"I am under no illusions and know I won't be here if we don't get results. I will stand or fall by the players' performances.

"They gave 100 per cent tonight. I have also identified certain players to bring in and they will be discussed."

Team news for tomorrow is relatively good. Definitely out is hamstring victim skipper Steve Soley and Peter Thomson, missing in the last two matches due to a cold, could come into the reckoning.

Peter Wright gave a full-blooded performance in his preferred central striking role on Tuesday night, with Lee Clitheroe the only casualty on the evening simply suffering with cramp after an excellent performance on the right of midfield.

The 4-1 home victory over Droylesden on September 13 seemed to see Walsh turn the corner, it didn't happen and Tony Hesketh knows he still has a lot to do to remain in the Haig Avenue hot seat.

Applications for the manager's job have kept, and will keep, rolling in with several well- known names in the area touted as applicants.

That will be kept confidential, as is only right and proper, by the Southport board. Time will be taken with Southport having no match next Saturday giving the board some breathing space.

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