BLAYDON, who are battling against relegation and financial worries, have parted company with Director of Rugby Andy Howells.

A Welshman, he had held the post for three years after coaching the colts for two seasons.

"A lot of things are being looked at and we will assess the situation at the end of the season before thinking about a replacement," said chairman Jim Huxley.

It appears that Howells has over-spent in trying to establish the club in the top half of National Division Three North.

They finished seventh last season and were on course for something similar until they lost at home to Darlington Mowden Park last month.

Last Saturday's heavy defeat at home to Tynedale left them fifth from the bottom and with the possibility that five will go down they are desperate to beat second-bottom Hull Ionians at home tomorrow.

Nick Gandy, who has been injured, comes in at fly half and Northumbria University pair Pete Kilburn and Sean Hannah are on the wings.

But there are problems up front, with hooker Paul Ritson and flanker Andy Wright both ruled out by neck injuries. Charlie Roe, normally a back row man, deputises for Riston and ex-colt Ricky Begier makes his senior debut at open side.

Mowden have former Blaydon player Iain Dixon fit to return at full back and Newcastle Falcons Academy centre Nick Wainwright is also available after both missed last week's defeat at Halifax.

For the return fixture there is also a chance that Soa Otuvaka, the Tongan flanker on loan from Newcastle, will be fit for the first time since twisting his ankle in a pre-match warm-up a month ago.

In North Division One, leaders Darlington are at home to third-bottom Huddersfield, who then finish the season with home games against the bottom two, Sandal and West Hartlepool.

West can escape the bottom two tomorrow by winning at home to Sandal, but to stay there they will probably have to win at Huddersfield as well.

Jamie Connolly is unavailable as his job with Lanchester Wines has taken him on a tasting trip to South America. But Falcons Academy player Gareth Kerr is available and another threequarter, Mark Thompson, could play his first game of the season after a knee injury. Darren Thomas could again be at scrum half as David Tighe is very doubtful.

Middlesbrough entertain North Two East leaders Bradford and Bingley with Cardiff University student James Thomas back at centre, Jason Malcolm at lock and Chris Horton at prop.

Malcolm replaces Dave Hinchley, who after a year out following a shoulder operation has now dislocated the other one.

Mark Hatfield continues at blind side, with Ben Pattinson hoping to get on off the bench after recovering from a dead leg.