Winning return to action eluding Rickards

Former Rainworth Miners Welfare manager Scott Rickards will be hoping for a case of third time lucky after returning to Barwell to concentrate on playing again in the EVO-STIK League.

Work commitments forced Rickards, pictured, to stand down as Wrens boss on the eve of the new season and he took up an offer to return to Kirkby Road ahead of the holiday weekend's double header.

After playing in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Marine and the 1-0 reverse at home to Halesowen Town on Bank Holiday Monday, he'll be hoping for better luck on Friday night when the Leicestershire club travel to Matlock Town in the Premier Division.

Rickards was appointed as Wrens manager in September 2013. The former Derby County player, now 32, went on to play for Tamworth, Kidderminster Harriers, Redditch United, Alfreton Town, Brackley Town, Solihull Moors and Halesowen Town before spending two years with Barwell between 2010 and 2012 followed by a move to Chasetown.