PHIL Starbuck is an ambitious man.

After defeat to Barnet on the last day of the season, he returned to the drawing board and pencilled his plans for the coming campaign.

It has involved building a whole new side, just about from scratch, but the annual RMI manager's dream of finishing fourth bottom, and avoiding the drop, is being trumped by the current incumbent.

"I don't just want people to be saying 'that's Leigh who will be at the bottom'. I want them to sit up and see that we can compete and get results and surprise a few people," says Starbuck, and you can hear the enthusiasm in his voice.

"I'm not making a prediction, because obviously staying up would please me, but I don't see why we should settle for it."

He is understandably cautious. With two-thirds of the opposition in the Nationwide Conference being full-time clubs, RMI are up against it, even before you take the slimline Hilton Park budget into account.

But the Railwaymen do seem to have a good blend of youth and experience -- one footballing cliche that Starbuck would not mind being borne out in reality.

Barry Miller and Craig Gaunt will provide the veteran turns at the heart of the defence, while Gareth Stoker will patrol the centre after joining from Forest Green.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Ian Martin is one of the division's hottest properties between the sticks, full-back Martin Moran has just signed, full of promise, from Bolton, and 19 year-old Craig Mitchell will bear responsibility for goalscoring duties up front.

As with all low budget enterprises, it is when the first string start to drop through injury and suspension that a team can really be assessed.

Leigh start the season with no bans, and no knocks either, barring the long-term thumb injury that sidelines goalkeeper and assistant manager Gary Kelly.

And with five matches coming in the first 16 days of the campaign, that will please Starbuck more than anything else.

"I'm looking forward to a new season and a new challenge," says the manager.

Striker Karl Rose is unlikely to start against the Dr Martens League champions at Hilton Park on Saturday. The former Scarborough man made his long-awaited debut against Newcastle Town in the weekend friendly, but is still short of match fitness.

RMI then travel to Burton Albion on Tuesday night (7:45pm kick-off).