BOSS Paul Collicutt is urging Evesham United to “embrace” their new surroundings after provisionally being transferred to Southern League East.

The Robins will face just two of the clubs they shared Southern League West with last season on the back of the FA’s shake-up of non-league’s third and fourth tiers.

Initial proposals for how the seven divisions at Evesham's level, up from six last term, have already been subjected to a reshuffle with Andover Town declining promotion this week.

That meant AFC Mansfield, who finished third in the North East Counties League, had the highest points-per-game ratio of the non-promoted clubs and got nudged up the pecking order.

The knock-on effect added two trips to Cambridgeshire for United as Peterborough Sports and Yaxley got drafted in to replace Staffordshire-based Chasetown, who move back to the Northern Premier League, and Cinderford Town who regained their place in Southern League West.

Evesham, Kidlington and North Leigh are set to join eight teams from last season’s Southern League East, Corby Town from the Northern Premier League Division One South, relegated Sutton Coldfield Town and promoted pair Bromsgrove Sporting and Coleshill Town.

The extra divisions have been introduced to reduce travelling but United seem unlikely to benefit due to a lack of Midlands-based clubs at step four and being on the border of the West division.

But while Collicutt would have preferred to stay put, he insists Evesham must make the best of the situation.

“I am being told the mileage is around the same for us so I believe it would be difficult to argue the case for any change,” said Collicutt.

“There are clubs in the East division that you think should not be in there, whether we fall into that category I don’t know.

“I know something about most of the teams in the new league but there are two or three I have never come across.

“It is one of those things you just have to get on with. We all knew there would be a new structure.

“We are going to come across teams Evesham has not played for many years, there is no point moaning or groaning.

“It would have been nice to stay in the West but sometimes you can get too complacent. There is no Shortwood United or Bishop’s Cleeve and with six promoted teams going in the travelling in that league will be huge.

"Didcot have lodged an appeal because they will travel 600 more miles by staying in the West and I don’t think it is finished yet. There will be a bit of haggling but we will have to see what pans out.”

Asked how the switch would affect his chances of retaining United's squad, Collicutt said: “I hope the players will do what I plan to and be positive about it. It is something different and new and as a club, we have to embrace it.

“I am talking to players, current ones and lads I want to attract to the club. It will be a busy few weeks.

"I would love to keep together the squad with a few additions but you don’t always get what you want.”

SOUTHERN LEAGUE EAST PROVISIONAL LINE-UP: AFC Dunstable, Aylesbury, Aylesbury United, Barton Rovers, Bedford Town, Berkhamsted, Bromsgrove Sporting, Cambridge City, Coleshill Town, Corby Town, Dunstable Town, Evesham United, Kempston Rovers, Kidlington, North Leigh, Peterborough Sports, Sutton Coldfield Town, Thame United, Welwyn Garden City, Yaxley.