PAUL Masters is being tipped to do “a really good job” as new manager of Winchester City – by the man plotting to beat him tonight.

Dave Lewis, assistant manager of Folland Sports who entertain City in the Sydenhams Premier, believes his former BAT teammate is a wise appointment as successor to Tim Cole and Danny Robinson.

“Paul’s a proper football person,” said Lewis.

“When I played with him at BAT he taught me a lot. He made my bad touches look like good passes!

“He knows the game inside out, he’s mentally strong and all his career he’s been surrounded by good players. He was part of a Saints reserve side with the Wallace brothers, Le Tissier and Shearer – plus he’s played top non-League football.

“He’ll do a great job at Winchester.”

Masters is back at City after a spell as assistant to Neil Hards last season, and made an ideal start to his reign on Saturday with a 4-0 League Cup win at Fawley.

Winchester lost new signing Charlie Smeeton to an ankle injury just six minutes in, but responded with some attractive football as Geoff Dunn weighed in with a hat-trick and set up the other for strike partner Zach Glasspool, who also hit the bar.

Given that Masters had only been appointed on Friday evening after Cole, and later Robinson, had resigned in the wake of Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat at Brockenhurst, director of football Dave Malone was delighted with the team’s response.

“It would have been evident from the first ten minutes if the players were just going through the motions – but far from it,” he said. “For the first half-hour, in particular, they were brilliant.

“I’m sure some of them were disappointed about what happened with Tim and Danny because they’d worked with them for a long time, but everyone appeared to be accepting of the situation.

“There were only two not there – Mike McEnery, who was at a wedding, and goalkeeper Jason Collins, who also had something pre-arranged.”

Malone does not anticipate an exodus of players, but admitted: “I’ve been in football long enough to know footballers sometimes say one thing and do another. But, realistically, unless they get a move to a higher level, where can they go that’s better than we’ve got at Winchester?

“At this moment the only lad unlikely to feature is the defender we signed from Wantage, Mark James, who is not yet fit or ready to play.”

Discussing Masters’ appointment, Malone said: “I liked working with Paul – and Hardsy – last year. Them leaving was never about them as managers, it was about players. I couldn’t see how we could get better players in without someone who knew the league and players well.

“We’re currently trying to get a couple of players in which, if it comes off, will add a bit more experience and quality to the squad.”

Masters will be assisted by former Romsey and New Milton duo Glenn Burnett and John McFarlane, right-hand men to Ashley Vickers during Blackfield & Langley’s Wessex title-winning campaign two seasons ago.

“I don’t think we could get three better people with the right mix of experience,” said Malone. “I feel much more at ease now management-wise.”

Top scorer Warren Bentley (groin) remains “touch and go” to start the Follands game tonight, but may make the bench.