Managers call on old friends to lift Hawks

Fri Jan 2, 2004 : 16:22

Havant and Waterlooville today announced three new signings ahead of tomorrow’s match with Newport County, writes Kevin Ricketts in today’s Portsmouth News. Jamie O’Rourke and Gary Connolly will be instantly recognisable to Hawks fans, but 19 year old Portsmouth Reserve team defender Ryan Hughes is a new addition to the currently depleted squad.

Left back Connolly returns to the Hawks on loan from his current club Bashley, having previously chalked up 88 Hawks appearances to September 2002, when he moved to the New Forest side. Striker O’Rourke also left the Hawks in the 2002/03 season, with 113 appearances to his name, to play closer to his island home at Newport Isle of Wight. Jamie’s contract there was recently cancelled as a result of the Eastern Division side’s ownership crisis.

Hughes comes on a month’s loan with the blessing of Pompey reserve team manager Andy Awford, who is said to highly rate the player. It is anticipated he will start alongside Alec Masson and Aaron Skelton tomorrow, who it is hoped will return to action from his knee injury. Mick Jenkins explains in the paper that the moves are essential in starting a turnaround in performances, and that "We have had problems defensively all season and we still hope to bring in other central and left sided defenders in the near future."

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