PREPARATIONS for the new season are under way at Minehead Barbarians RFC as the club hunt for a new coach to replace Lee Wadden, who left the club last season.

Club Director of Development Andrew Stevens said: “We haven’t appointed anyone yet, but we are hoping to do so soon.

“I’ve had a few applications come in, but nothing has materialised. One guy applied from overseas thinking it was a full-time position, so I had to give him the bad news.”

Pre-season training at the club is due to start on Tuesday, July 23 and will be every Tuesday and Thursday at the club.

Stevens hopes the club can record another solid league position again this season.

He said: “We aren’t looking for promotion this season, I’ll be honest.

“Our captain Ryan Lewis is over in New Zealand playing at the moment and he won’t be back until after Christmas so that will slightly affect us. But if we can have another good season and finish mid-table I think we will be happy with that.”

Minehead are due to play Tiverton in their first pre-season friendly on August 31.

Anyone interested in playing for Barbarians should call Stevens on 07917-632234.

n MINEHEAD held their annual presentation dinner following a solid fourth-placed finish in the Somerset Premier League South-West Division.

It was a successful night for first team player Ryan Lewis, who scooped first team Player of the Year, first team Man of Steel and Player’s Player of the Year awards.

Matthew Holman won second team Player of the Year, with Mark Ritchings taking the third team award.

Colts Player of the Year went to George Buckingham and Man of Steel went to Joe Gould.

Clubman of the Year was won jointly by Colin Howells and Mike Willes and the Martin Letchford award was won by Nick and Mandy Mizouri for their fundraising efforts.