PORTLAND United boss Simon Browne has revealed that Carl Mutch is to be appointed as his new assistant-manager ahead of their Sydenhams Wessex League Premier match at home to Shaftesbury tonight (7.45pm).

Mutch fills the vacancy left by Mark Carter, who departed the club just one week before the season began to join Hamworthy United.

Having taken up a coaching role throughout the early stages of the season, Mutch remains available to play should Browne require his services.

The Blues’ manager told Echosport that Mutch’s new position will provide the club with “continuity”.

He said: “Carl’s been at the club for a long time. He’s done some coaching and done the role on a part-time basis. Obviously there was an opportunity there.

“Carl’s a Portland boy and expressed an interest in coming on board. He’ll still be available to play if we need him. It’s a bit of continuity there, he knows the club inside out and he’s built up a rapport with the players.

“There’s a slightly different emphasis now and it’s more about what he does on the coaching side of things.”

After suffering a 3-0 defeat, their first of the season, to Paulton Rovers in the FA Cup preliminary round on Saturday, Browne is thankful for the chance to play Shaftesbury so soon after that loss.

“It’s given us an opportunity to get it out of our system. A few of the players were a bit down in the mouth after the game, said they didn’t play well and said they weren’t good enough on the day.

“We said not to beat ourselves up. We don’t want this to impact on the rest of the season after a first loss. They have been used to winning games and we’re looking to get three points (tonight).”

Browne revealed that Sam Buckler will have a late check on his ankle, while Ryan McKechnie is unavailable.

n Match ball sponsor for the game is Dave Norster, with Neil Smith, of Sprint Signs in Weymouth, the programme sponsor.