WINCHESTER City will have a new man directing from the dugout at North Leigh on Saturday.

Former Gosport Borough assistant boss Mick Catlin is taking charge of the team as a favour to manager Ian Saunders who has been called away on military duty at short notice.

The North Leigh trip kicks off a run of three crucial fixtures that could decide whether eighth-placed City are in with a fighting chances of reaching the Southern One South & West play-offs.

Saturday's hosts are ninth and on Tuesday (February 14) Winchester travel to seventh-placed Mangotsfield, followed by a huge home clash against second-placed Evesham next Saturday (February 18).

Football-wise it’s an awkward time for Army warrant officer Saunders to be called away, but he couldn’t be leaving the team in more capable hands.

During his nine-year stint at Gosport, where he was No2 to Alex Pike, Catlin helped steer Borough from the Wessex League to the National League South and was an inspiration behind their fairytale 2013/14 journey to the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

Saunders and Catlin are old friends, having worked together at Brockenhurst, Fleet Town and Chichester over the years.

“Mick’s been gracious enough to come in for the two weeks I’m away and it works for us to have someone of that calibre step in,” said Saunders.

“Mick being here is not pushing my number two, Jason Hampson, out of the way. The rest of the management team are over the moon that he’s coming in to do a job for me.

“Mick and I briefly ran Brockenhurst together and I was his captain and then assistant at Fleet. We were also at Chichester together with Mick as manager and me as player-coach. He’s one of my best mates in football.”

Catlin was at the Denplan City Ground last Saturday to watch an exquisite overhead kick by top gun Craig Feeney set Winchester on their way to a 3-0 victory over Wantage.

The 31-goal marksman has since committed himself to City for the rest of the season, turning down overtures from National League South outfit Poole Town.

That will come as a major boost to Catlin as he prepares for three huge games in charge.

Director of football Dave Malone said: “Mick’s a top man, very experienced and good with the players.

“I’m away as well for two of the next three games, which isn’t great, but hopefully we’ve got the ideal man to fill the void.

“Mick’s a really nice guy and I’m sure he’ll get the respect of the players. He already knows quite a few of them."