BASINGSTOKE Town's new manager Francis Vines will take charge of his first match on Saturday at Yeading - seeking to inspire the relegation-threatened club to a Nationwide South win that will bring a positive close to a tumultuous and painful week at the Camrose.

The new man at the helm has chosen not to talk to the press until after Saturday's clash because he wants to get to know his players and prepare fully for his fresh role in non-league football.

Vines was officially appointed manager on Monday - less than 48 hours after the shock departure of Ernie Howe, club boss of 13 years. He left when the board of directors told him he had to go after last Saturday's 3-0 home defeat to Thurrock.

Ex-Crawley supremo Vines feels it is inappropriate to comment at this stage - given his first training session with the players will be held tonight and he is yet to oversee a match - with passions running so high after such a turbulent week at the club.

The messy departure of Howe and his loyal assistant Pete Peters last weekend has rocked the club to its foundations, splitting the board and its supporters.

In today's Gazette:

saddened Peters hits out at what he feels is his and Howe's shabby treatment

club captain Jason Bristow says the players must take the blame for Howe's dismissal

ex-chairman David Hunt reveals he believes he could have averted moves to remove Howe if he had been at the crunch board meeting that decided the manager's fate

vice-chairman Steve Murfitt denies claims the deal to install Vines was cut and dried while Howe was still in charge

club president and owner Rafi Razzak backs the board's decision and actions.

The club's board and senior officials have acknowledged they expect questions this week, given the way things have transpired.

To that end, they will be staging an open fans' forum at the Camrose social club, at 8pm tonight, to answer any concerns that supporters have.

All four directors who chose to remove Howe - Steve Murfitt, Linda Murfitt, Ken Taylor and Sarah Parsons - will be in attendance.

"We want to be open and honest, and answer the questions the fans have, because we want to move forward as one family, one club to secure our main priority - staying in the Conference South," said Steve Murfitt.

Murfitt said Rafi Razzak was also hoping to attend the forum after meeting with Vines for the first time, and added Vines may come along after he has taken the first-team training session.

Further clarifying Vines' stance, Murfitt told The Gazette: "Because he has a lot to do and get sorted - there are new players coming in, he has training and the Yeading game to focus on - he felt talking to the press was a distraction he didn't need this week.

"But he is fully prepared and ready to do it after Saturday's game, when he will have something to talk about and can also make a statement about his appointment."

Vines was previously with Crawley Town for two-and-a-half years, where he secured promotion to the Conference National from the Dr Martens League, followed by a creditable 12th position last year in Crawley's first season in the Nationwide Conference top flight.

But he was sacked in October after a poor run of form and the club's new owners, the SA Group, lost patience with him. He is currently taking the club to an employment tribunal for £109,000.

Howe's former first-team coach, Steve Richardson, will be Vines' assistant.

Vines will be bringing a striker and centre-half with him, which means two players, most likely Argentinians Pablo Pedrotti and Miguel Angel-Basualdo, will be leaving Town.

Vines was introduced on Monday night to his new players - they were contacted that morning by the board and asked to come to a meeting where they would be introduced to the new manager.

Vines arranged a bonding session on Tuesday night at the Planet Ice Arena bar.

Speaking about that, club captain Bristow told The Gazette: "It was a good thing.

"There was the first team, reserves, directors and staff all there and we just had a couple of drinks and a few games of pool and watched the Arsenal vs Juventus game.

"I feel we're going to need to stick together between now and the end of the season, so trying to create a bit of togetherness was good."