THE Saturday afternoons being dragged round Kingsway Shopping Centre are over, the rubbish summer sports can be put back in their place until next year. Football is back.

And for once County fans can face the new Nationwide South season from the stands as opposed to where they are more accustomed- behind the couch.

County boss Peter Nicholas has assembled a side that he feels can bring home the bacon and he is hoping to get off to a flier at Havant and Waterlooville tomorrow (kick-off 3pm), and propel his side towards promotion.

He said: "We want to finish as far up this division as possible and that means promotion. "Obviously every team that kicks-off on Saturday is looking for the same and it is a going to be a long hard season.

"But we want to get off to a good start. We made a bad start last year and there is no way we are going to let that happen this time.

"Saturday's is important because it is going to kick the season off.

"Havant have made some signings including Dean Holdsworth and the first 25 minutes will be frantic. It will be difficult but I can't wait for it.

"We've had a good pre-season and the games we have played, especially the Tiverton game, we have come through okay.

"We feel we have a good squad. If we have some injuries then we may have to look elsewhere but I have 18 or 19 players that I am pleased with."

County have a full compliment to chose from, apart from Gary Lloyd who departed this week, and confirmed Scott Young as team captain, with Roger Freestone as club captain.

Young is happy to carry the mantle and can't wait for the season to get under way.

He said: "It is nice and hopefully I can bring a bit of the experience for the young lads but we also have the likes of Roger (Freestone) and Bows (Jason Bowen) and Kevin Aherne-Evans who have played league football and can pass that experience on."

And there is no chance that Young will go into the campaign expecting an easy ride. He said: "Football is football and myself and Roger have played in the Third Division and there is not much difference. You still have to give it your best."

This season will either be a momentous season or an unmitigating disaster for County, you get the feeling there will be no middle ground.

Either way, it is going be a hell of a ride.

County squad: R Freestone, N Passmore, S Morgan, D Jones, L Phillips, N Davies, S Young (c), J Coates, J Moralee, C Wilson-Denis, J Bowen, K Aherne-Evans, S O'Sullivan, A Williams, J Phillips, G Jones, A Delve