RONNIE MOORE thinks Cheltenham’s move to bring in the experienced Gary Johnson has shaken up the League Two relegation battle – but warned the appointment does not guarantee success.

Cheltenham swapped places with Hartlepool United at the foot of the table after last weekend’s round of games, when Moore’s side claimed a fourth successive win to climb above the dotted line for the first time since October.

But the Robins moved to bring in experienced former Yeovil Town boss Johnson after dropping to the foot of the division, with former caretaker manager Russell Milton taking on the role of his assistant.

Cheltenham are banking on the move reaping immediate rewards, although Moore does not think a change of manager is a sure way of turning things around - particularly with just seven matches remaining.

Moore said: “It’s a gamble because you can't change an awful lot. He cannot bring in whoever he wants, the loan window has closed, so he will have to work with what he has. Sometimes with a new manager, you get an up lift in results straight away.

“I wish that had happened earlier when I came in! We had two draws and two losses. That can happen at this level.

“Cheltenham have to hit the ground running now, they have some really tough fixtures. Gary knows the game inside out and has had promotions with Yeovil. You don’t do what he has done, without knowing what you're doing. He is in to guide their younger manager. Has he got enough time? Only time will tell.”

If Cheltenham are to climb out of the bottom two then tomorrow’s trip to relegation strugglers York City could prove pivotal – for Pools, who are at play-off hunting Newport, too.

Moore remembers when he first took over of the Football League’s bottom club, Hartlepool, at the time. He said: “When you are out of work and then get a job, the lift you get personally is unbelievable.

“It doesn't matter whether they are the best or the worst players. The lift it gives you, you try to pass that on to the players you have got. You don’t think to yourself, there is no way I can save these ...

“And you have to be lucky on the loans because you don't always know until you get them in, which has been proved here. The players are used to getting beat and it is hard to lift that. You have to do it by having a little bit of fun and not being too strict, but it is hard when you are getting beat. The first thing is to enjoy being a footballer.”

Despite the turnaround at first team level, Moore was disappointed with Hartlepool’s reserves side drawing 1-1 with a young Morecambe team on Tuesday. Jack Compton, Marlon Harewood, Tommy Miller and Marvin Morgan were among those on show.

Moore said: “The fringe players have to work and perform a lot better if they want to get back into the first team than they did for the reserves. There was one or two who didn't really want to play.

"They will be no good to me. I need people who are hungry and chomping at the bit and want to play. If you don't want to play for the reserves and can't be bothered running about then you ain't going to be knocking on my door. It is easy for me to then say 'same again' to the first team lads.”

Moore will hand a late fitness test to midfielder Aaron Tshibola ahead of the trip to Newport. He suffered a groin problem against Cambridge last weekend and has not trained this week.