ANDOVER have underlined their optimisim for the future of the club by appointing former Whitchurch United boss Howard Goddard as their new manager.

Although the takeover of the club still hinges on Test Valley Borough Council granting a lease to prospective buyers, chairman-in-waiting Paul Wilkinson believes they will get the green light when they meet with the council today.

Wilkinson, managing director of club sponsors Corporate Freight Logistics, is part of a two-man consortium taking over the club along with Mike Bullock, owner of the nearby Station Hotel.

With Bullock on board, the Lions plan to re-open the bar upstairs, which shut down last season, turning it into a conference facility by day and hosting live music in the evenings.

Confirming a deal had been struck with outgoing owner/chairman Ken Cunningham-Brown, Wilkinson said: "We're so optimistic that we've already appointed Howard and we've done a deal with local youth side RPM to join us at the Portway Stadium and start up a youth policy.

"We're also trying to get dispensation to get a reserve team into the Jewson Wessex Combination, but I think it may be too late. If not, we'll make a start by making the under-17s our reserves."

Former AFC Bournemouth and Newport County striker Goddard had a brief stint in charge of Whitchurch last season after a successful spell with Hampshire League outfit Broughton.

Wilkinson said: "We've taken him on because of his enthusiasm, his coaching ability and his contacts. He'll be very good for bringing on players."

Although the Lions will have some decent funds at their disposal next season, the immediate priority is to make up to £60,000 of refurbishments at the ground.

The playing budget will be nothing like the one that landed Cunningham-Brown two successive Jewson Wessex League titles, but Wilkinson said: "We need to get the infrastructure in place first and then worry about winning.We'll aim to finish somewhere between fourth and sixth next season."

Andy Forbes, Andover's highly-prized top scorer, will almost certainly be sold. "If he wants to join Ken at Salisbury that's up to him," said Wilkinson.

"We will not be in a position to keep him."

Neil Hards is back is football as the right-hand man to new Winchester City manager John Robson.

The 40-year-old former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper has resurfaced with the ambitious Hampshire Premier title chasers following last summer's departure from Newport IoW, where he was number two to Tony Mount.

Robson has never worked with Hards before but said: "Every player who's worked with Neil has got respect for him."

Hards could soon be joined at Winchester by his former St George's Park and Havant colleague Gary Green. The veteran midfielder was among a crop of senior players released by Newport in a cost-cutting measure this summer.

Robson has gone back to his old club Alton Town to pick up two gems from his Hampshire title-winning side. Striker Jamie Smith has climbed on board along with former Bashley and Eastleigh defender David Goss. City have also signed attacking midfielder Mark Clothier, who left Alton last season to join Gosport Borough.