EBBW VALE boss Marcus Russell, pictured, reckons sticking to the guidelines this season on the way the Welsh Prem-ier League should be run is the reason why his club prop up the division.

The Steelmen, therefore, have decided to ditch that policy and go for survival instead. At the start of the season, the idea for the semi-professional Welsh Premier League was that it would be about fielding youngsters and that there would be no relegation.

That has changed, however, with teams fielding older players and with relegation for the bottom club back in force.

Russell and his club are currently rock bottom of the table, two points behind Cardiff, and have won just four out of 18 games, with one draw, so far.

With the dawn of the new year, the club have, therefore, chosen to bring in some 'old heads' to help the youngsters there.

Russell said: "At the beginning of the season, we took on board the idea that you had to have ten under-21s in your squad and there was no relegation.

"Then, halfway through the season, you find that this is not the case. A lot of teams are playing over 30s in games and there is relegation.

"We adopted what we thought was the Union's plans but they have not turned out like that, although we have no complaints there.

"We have found, in the same way that one or two other clubs have, is that you need to add old heads.

"Up front, we have a very young front five but now we have Neil Edwards (lock) who has joined us and Mike Wilson (prop). Having them around will help the youngsters on."

Vale have, of course, other 'old heads', like player-coach Byron Hayward, in their side but the addition of more and help from others is the way Russell and co see as getting the Steelmen out of their current predicament.

One of those methods was a training session last night taken by Newport Gwent Dragons coach Mike Ruddock at Eugene Cross Park.

Russell added: "It's very nice to see.

"It will help inject team spirit. The only thing we are short of at the moment is a bit of self-belief."