Posted by Rod Wessex League club Cowes Sports is continuing its forward-thinking plans by elevating its reserve side to the Wessex Combination next season. For decades the club's second string have competed in the Island League but it has seized an opportunity presented by the demise of Newport Reserves' combination side. Cowes were quick to approach Paul Sleep when he left Newport at the end of last season after they pulled their reserves out of the league. He took up the offer of running a Cowes side in the combination and will bring the nucleus of his squad from Newport with him for next season, plus his assistant Diz Dyer. Sleep, 41, said he was delighted to be offered the chance to run the new Cowes side. "Together with Diz, I am looking forward to working with familiar and new players. We feel they will benefit from the platform the Wessex Combination will give them as they hopefully step up to the first team. "Towards the end of last season at Newport we were using a lot of 16 and 17 year-olds and am delighted that the majority of them have chosen to follow me to Cowes." Sleep, whose father, Ray, is a former player and past chairman at Cowes, enjoyed a successful two years in charge of Newport Reserves. Two seasons ago they finished third and won the league cup, and last year they ended up sixth. Cowes chairman Ian Lee said having its reserves in a higher league was a great boost. "The club as a whole should be more appealing to players, which should have a positive knock-on effect for the first team," he said. Cowes A will take up the place in IW League Division One vacated by the reserves, and a new B team will replace the A side in Combination One. The on-field development plans are being matched by those off the pitch. A new clubhouse and changing rooms at its Westwood Park home will be open in time for the new season and work will start soon on a new terrace, perimeter fence and turnstiles. (Simon Smith)
on 12/6/2003, 2:37 pm, in reply to "From Non League website"
62.253.64.4
I had heard Paul had gone to Cowes and taken some of the reserves with him - didn't know we had changed places with Cowes Reserves though!!
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