After a couple of months to forget, Deal Town manager Derek Hares is hoping his side can quietly begin to re-build their season in the run-up to Christmas.

Beaten in six of their last seven matches, Deal face Norton Sports at home on Saturday in one of only two games Town are scheduled to play before the end of the year.

But Hares (pictured), who admitted last week that he had considered resigning in the wake of Deal's recent poor run, believes this month's light fixture list might work in his side's favour.

He said: "After the bad few weeks we've had, it will allow things to settle down a bit and give the new players we've signed the chance to bed down with the squad in training."

In addition to striker David Cory and midfield duo Joe Hitchings and Jake Eastwood, Hares has now signed another striker in Zach Thomas.

He said: "Zach has been scoring lots of goals in local football in Thanet and he's also played for Ramsgate a couple of times this season."

Deal will be without Danny Smith as he serves a one-game ban but Jack Collins is back in contention after making his comeback in the reserves last Saturday after a four-match ban while Aaron Robinson and Jamie Marriott are also available after being away on holiday.