NEWPORT County manager Dean Holdsworth declared himself "chuffed" to be facing AFC Wimbledon on the first day of the Blue Square South season.

The former Wimbledon striker will be reliving his glory days as a member of the Crazy Gang when the London outfit, formed after the original franchise moved to Milton Keynes to become MK Dons, travel to Spytty Park on Saturday, August 9.

"I'm delighted," said Holdsworth. "Obviously I've got a special relationship with Wimbledon having spent many happy years there and I was chuffed to see them come out of the fixture computer first up.

"I'm sure I won't need a lot of motivation for that game. It will be a great day."

Holdsworth made 197 appearances for the Dons from 1992 to 1997 and 2003 to 2004, scoring 61 goals. During his first spell he played alongside the likes of Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu and Lawrie Sanchez and earned a solitary England B cap, scoring in a 4-2 win over Northern Ireland in 1994.

As well as Wimbledon on the opening day, County complete a difficult first week of the season with trips to Eastleigh and Chelmsford and Holdsworth knows he could hardly have been handed a tougher start.

"I've definitely been thrown in at the deep end with those three," said the Exiles boss. "I'm not exactly easing into the job gently but I'm excited by the challenge and I can't wait to get started now."

County have been installed as 14-1 tenth favourites to win the Blue Square South, behind AFC Wimbledon (11-1), Eastleigh (8-1), Chelmsford (7-1) and Havant & Waterlooville who are 9-2 to win the title.

Havant, another of Holdsworth's former clubs, come to Spytty on Wednesday, September 3, and other notable dates for the diary include the return fixture at Wimbledon on December 20, local derbies home and away to Worcester City on Boxing Day and New Year's Day respectively, and a trip to Welling United on the final day of the season.

"I'm not allowed to bet so I don't take much interest in what the bookies have to say," said Holdsworth. "I'm more than happy with our progress so far and I think we'll surprise a few people."