GREG Restell is the new man in the Overton hot seat and along with Tim Hoyland, they have taken over Titch Bloomfield and Jamie Fewtrell at the Hampshire Premier League side.

Restell and Hyland last season were in charge of the Overton Reserves. It is great that Overton have promoted from within and the first team is certainly in good hands.

Completing the coaching team is Duncan Leahy from successful Basingstoke and District Saturday League side Tron and Les Hayes is the new fitness coach.

Restell himself is no stranger to local football having played for Whitchurch, before returning to captain his home town team Overton.

He is now looking forward to the challenge of guiding the side up the Hampshire Premier League.

Overton have added a number of players to the squad with striker Danny Houseman returning from Hartley Wintney and experience centre half Barney Powell joining from Tron.

Ross Soper-Dyer returns from the reserves and Steve Caswell is still the club captain for another campaign.

Overton continued a solid pre-season last weekend, with a 3-3 draw at Andover New Street, which saw Houseman score twice and Elliott Hobden netted the other.

As their Bridge Street ground in Overton is still being used for cricket during August, the side face their traditional run of games away from home with the first at Clanfield on Saturday.

Overton played the same side in the final game of the last season and won 2-0.

Trips to Hayling Island, Fleetlands, Paulsgrove and Winchester Castle then follow this, before their first home game against Stockbridge on Saturday September 3.

Looking ahead to the season, Restell said: “I am very proud to be manager of the team and I hope we can move the side up into the top half of the table. This is our first aim and then we will see where it takes us.”