ASSISTANT Daisy Hill manager Brian Smith has his own ideas on how the North Western Counties League Division Two will pan out putting it in the same three-tier league as the Premiership.

Brian said: "The North West Counties League is made up of 20 teams.

You will have a top six who have a chance of promotion and who have a decent budget to attract a high calibre of players.

In this category, I can see Blackpool Mechanics, Stone Dominoes, Chadderton, Padiham, Squires Gate and Castleton Gabriels.

The middle tier six teams will be yo-yo teams between the first and second tiers.

Teams falling into this category could possibly be Formby, Darwen, Nelson and Warrington who, on their day are capable of beating anyone but not achieving the consistency against the top tier teams to have serious championship ambitions.

These second tier teams will, nine times out of 10, always beat the third tier sides.

The remaining eight third tier teams will all be playing in their own mini league and will all be fighting to avoid the dreaded re-election positions.

The important thing for these teams is to gain good results against their own third tier teams.

Teams like Ashton, Oldham, Daisy Hill, Bootle, Alsager, Holker, Atherton LR and Tetley Walker have the ability to progress into the second tier but will always yo-yo between both.

Daisy Hill will always yo-yo between the third and second tier, as we have no money for player expenses and have to develop our own young players.

"Brian Richardson and I are both convinced that, with a half decent budget and with the contacts available to us, we could achieve a top tier position where we would have a good chance of competing for the title.

"I suppose, at the moment, we are the premiership equivalent of a Coventry or Southampton who always yo-yo between the third and second tier.

"The irony is that, once we have improved and developed our young players and they are playing well for Daisy Hill, a higher level club could possibly come in and offer them a financial package they will be unable to turn down.

"Brian and I both realise that that is football at this level and we would never stop any youngsters progressing to play at a higher level.

Our next two matches are away matches against top tier sides Stone Dominoes and Chadderton and we realise that everyone will have to be at their best to get anything from these two games.

Overall, we have been pleased with our start.

Brian Richardson and I both feel that we are capable of beating most of the second and third tier teams and always look forward to the challenge of playing against the top six sides.

On the playing front, we have lost young Mike Ford to Tempest Utd.

Mike has recently been down training with the England youth squad and everyone at Daisy would like to wish him all the best with his new club.

New playing additions to the club are Nick Harrison, Kieron Power and Adam Lawrence, all, I am sure will be battling for first team places.

The return, after suspension, of Micky Bennett is a massive boost for the 1st team squad. First team regular of last season, Neil Melling, also comes back into contention after his cricketing exploits.

Manager Brian Richardson said: "We are close to getting the squad we want, with intense competition for places.

"Everyone at the club is battling for first and second team squad places and no one is guaranteed a place.

"Everyone realises that they will have to give their best in training and on match days to maintain their position at the club.

"It's inevitable that some weeks good players will be sitting on the bench or playing in the reserves. That's part of being a successful club.

"If a player gets left out, we expect him to show the necessary character and prove to us he is worthy of a place in the side.

"Brian Smith and I have put a lot of faith in our youngsters and they are having to learn quickly.

"Young players inevitably suffer ups and downs as they are learning the game.

"But, if you believe they are the future of the club, you keep faith with them.

"We've built a great team spirit here and we will be looking to sign young, talented players who fit into the Daisy Hill system of play.

"We are very pleased with the way the club on the footballing side is progressing and with Hindley Juniors under 18s acting as our academy side and our own Daisy Hill under 16s and under 13s, the future is looking very bright indeed.

"I am sure it will not be long before quite a few of these talented youngsters are knocking on the first team door."