Neil McCarthy was a summer appointment by ambitious Wootton Bassett Ref: 78394-230RUGBY KICK-OFF: WOOTTON Bassett have turned to a little professional help to further their Southern Counties South prospects this season.

Since parting company with Graham Stickler at the end of last season, the club have appointed former England and Bristol Shoguns player Neil McCarthy as their new coach.

McCarthy, after spells at Bath and Gloucester, joined Bristol Shoguns and was a member of England's 1999 World Cup squad.

A cruciate knee injury curtailed his career, however, and despite a comeback season with Orrell in National League One, McCarthy officially retired from the game this year.

Having first played at Cirencester as a youngster, and then spent coaching spells with Corsham and Walcot, McCarthy is very much in touch with the junior level of the game and is looking forward to cutting his teeth once again at a lower level.

Wootton Bassett proved a real force in Southern Counties South last season and their promotion challenge only faltered in the last few weeks of the season.

And with McCarthy on board, they will be hoping to press their promotion claims once again.

Said McCarthy: "I'm really enjoying the coaching side. Previously I've done a lot of work with Bristol Youth and Academy players, so it's always different to be coaching adults.

"The good thing here is the fact that they are very receptive and willing to learn and from what I can see, we have some very capable players."

Bassett's youthful back line impressed in a triangular warm-up tournament at Cirencester at the weekend, and certainly showed their paces against the hosts and South West Division 2 side Stroud.

Nick Parker, younger brother of county full-back Dave, has caught the eye in pre-season, along with Duncan Fletcher, a new recruit formely with Loughborough University and Carlisle, while McCarthy will be able to select from a whole host of youngsters, among them Daniel David and Jon Ashton.

McCarthy added: "In terms of the rugby played last weekend, it was very positive.

"The players are hungry and the club is ambitious, and that makes my job that much easier and more enjoyable.

"There's still a lot of learning to be done, but I'd like to think we can be challenging this season.

"It looks like being a competitive league but I'm fairly optimistic that we can finish in the top half of the league.

"It's exciting for me, and hopefully exciting for the players."

The 30-year-old has been joined by Dave Sullivan, a coach with plenty of experience in Wiltshire rugby and someone McCarthy first bumped into during his Bath Youth days.

Said McCarthy: "I have fond memories of coaching Corsham, and that gave me a great start at this level, and Dave's assistance will be invaluable for me.

"Not only is he a good coach, but he's also got great local knowledge and a knowledge of this league. And that will help me no end."

Lock Dave Floyd captains the first team again this season, with Mark Roshier leading the second string and Gary Mander in charge of the thirds.

The club's youth sections continue to grow, while off the field, Bassett are continuing to pursue a move from their Stoneover Lane ground, and have also secured a three-year senior sponsorship deal with Swindon-based solicitors Carter, Read and Dove.