Hawkins makes immediate impact

Bedworth Town's new manager Nick Hawkins swooped to sign eight new players in his first day in the hot-seat at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Greenbacks.

Hawkins, pictured, started at the First Division South outfit on Monday morning following his appointment on Saturday night as the permanent successor to Ady Fuller.

Town's new manager left league rivals Eastwood Town last week and takes charge for the first time on Tuesday for their trip to Market Drayton Town. Determined to end the club's worst start to a season in years, by the time he'd left the Oval for home, Hawkins had captured two defenders, three midfielders and three strikers.

Apart from one, all the new faces have appeared for his old club Eastwood Town and include 27-year-old central defender Gavin Hurren, his assistant. He played for Kidderminster Harriers when they were beaten finalists in the FA Trophy at Wembley six years ago.

The eight new players are Hurren and fellow defender Sam Craven, midfielders Ashley Robinson, ex-Sky Blues starlet Ben Gowing and Russell Peel plus forwards Bradley Munn, Shannon Grant and James Spray. Spray, 20, signed from Stourbridge and was with AFC Telford in the Conference last season.