BOSS Robin Townsend is looking forward to his first competitive contest back in the Lyme Regis hot-seat, as the Seasiders kick off their campaign in Devon & Exeter Division One on Saturday (3pm).

The Davey Fort side host Exmouth Town Seconds in their season opener this weekend and, after bringing in a few fresh faces, Townsend, who took over from interim-manager Rob Thom, is eager to get started with the newly-promoted side.

He said: “We are obviously looking forward to it. It (the division) is unknown to me and unknown to the club, so we will see how it goes.

“Pre-season has gone well and I am pleased with what has happened.

“We are now looking forward to that first league game.

“I am hoping to be in the upper half of Division One looking at what we have done in pre-season.”

Speaking about his new recruits, Townsend added: “We have Chris Herbst and Sam Day who have come in from Bridport, who seem to have settled in straight away.

“I have also managed to persuade Rhys Hayter to come back from Weymouth Reserves, which is good news for the club because he is young, but he has torn a ligament in his ankle in a pre-season game which is unfortunate.

“He is going to be out for a couple of weeks easily.”