TIM HARRIS is preparing to take his Newport County squad on a pre-season summer tour of the South Coast.

But the Exiles boss will leave his sun-hat and deckchair at home and insists this is no summer holiday as his players will play two matches in three days.

Harris (pictured) believes the tour is a perfect opportunity for his team, who will travel to Bournemouth tomorrow, to strengthen their team-spirit and allow new arrivals to gel with their new team-mates.

County play Jewson Wessex outfit Wimborne Town at their Cuthbury ground tomorrow (7.45pm) before travelling to Lymington and New Milton on Saturday (3pm). Dr Martens Premier League Newport last played Wimborne, now managed by former County goalkeeper John Macey, in the FA Cup in 1999-2000 when a Carl Dale hat-trick in the replay in Dorset secured County's passage through.

Fellow Jewson Wessex side Lymington and New Milton, situated on the Solent, have never played Newport.

"I think these pre-season tours cement the togetherness in the squad," said Harris. "We have got a great team spirit at Newport County now and this is an ideal opportunity for the players to spend time with each other when they are not playing football. "It's not a knees-up," Harris insisted. "We'll work on training-ground exercises and technical and tactical drills.

"And the games will keep up the players' progression to regaining match fitness." It will also give the new arrivals - striker Mark Dickeson and assistant manager Colin Addison - a chance to "get to know" the rest of the squad.

Team-building exercises like a "golf challenge" will also be on the agenda. "Our team spirit is first class," said Harris. "We've got a great bunch of lads and this will ensure that continues."

The Sunday after the Lymington and New Milton clash will be a "rest day" before the lucrative friendly showdown with Romanian soccer giants and former European Champions Steaua Bucharest on Monday night (7.30pm).

County (South coast tour squad): P Mountain, D Robison (captain), B Clark, J Eckhardt, A Thomas, N Davies, M Rose, A Stevens, D Ryan, S Walker, S Cowe, S James, R French, M Paul, G Shephard, R Plant, M Dickeson, M Fowler, L Stanton, D Lewis.

Newport County AFC fans and football supporters in general will be interested to know about the memorial service for Keith Tyte. It is being held at St Woolos Cathedral tonight at 7pm.

The former Archdeacon of Newport died earlier this year in West Wales. He was club chaplain for both the County and Newport AFC before his well-earned retirement took he and Eileen to West Wales.

He was described by John Boyers, the chaplain of Manchester United, as "one of the father figures of sports chaplaincy."

Newport County AFC's current chaplain, Keith Beardmore, testifies to what an inspirational character his predecessor was. Tyte is remembered with affection both for his compassion for people and his passion for football.