Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

Newtown & Chilwell is confident a complete restructure of its coaching team will put the club on course for a rise up the GCA pecking order in 2010-2011.

The Two Blues enter their centenary season on the edge of dropping out of Geelong cricket’s top flight.

However, the club believes it has the right people on board to turn its onfield fortunes around after a recent barren patch that almost resulted in relegation to division two.

Respected junior mentor Bryan Thomas has been appointed head coach and bowling coach for the coming season, while last season’s playing coach Ben Neville will captain the club’s 1st XI.

Experienced administrator Don Royce has returned to the club as director of cricket, while former premiership player Mick Wood will serve as the club’s batting coach.

Neville said the club hoped the new set up would fast track the development of its raw but talented younger players.

“We’re really looking to set things up. A lot of the guys who played ones last year weren’t ready but it was good experience and they know where to improve,” he said.

“But we’ve got to win a lot of games of cricket because if we don’t, I’d say we won’t be looking good to stay up. We also want top do that in the right way and enjoy ourselves.”

Newtown will also welcome an overseas player into the fold, with 18-year-old all rounder Sam Arthurton joining the Two Blues as part of the club’s ongoing agreement with English county club Essex.

The Two Blues also hope to add up to five new faces to their 1st XI

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