Barnet midfielder Ashley Carew is to be given the chance to secure a new position in manager Paul Fairclough's starting 11.

Carew will be given the opportunity to tie down the right-back slot at the start of the new season, after impressing in that position during the injury crisis that hit Fairclough's troops as last season drew to a close.

Answering questions from supporters at the Barnet FC Supporters' Association (BFCSA) AGM last week, Fairclough revealed that he has a new role in mind for Carew this season.

"He'll be given the chance to make the right-back position his own," the manager said. "All the players have been given football videos to watch and Ashley has been told to study the right-back position."

Carew, a central midfielder who Fairclough initially intended to convert to a winger, had spells on the wing, in central midfield and eventually at right-back last season, but failed to hold down a regular first-team spot.

This prompted some debate amongst supporters about whether the player would be kept on at the end of the campaign, but there seemed to be no such doubt in the minds of the Underhill management team.

Fairclough clearly has confidence in the Barbados international's ability.

He said: "Ashley is one of the most rounded players at the club. He's got good pace, strength, stamina and excellent technical ability."

However, he admitted that Carew had "sometimes failed to show this in matches", but offered a valid explanation.

"He's so eager to impress that he tries to do something exquisite every time he has the ball. Sometimes it's better to just pass it, and we need to help Ashley to do just that."

At the same time, Fairclough also revealed the reasons behind Nicky Nicolau rejecting a new contract and leaving the club.

"Nicky's agent's valuation of him didn't match mine," Fairclough said. "I probably could not have done more to keep him, but I didn't see him as someone who would be a regular in the first team this season."

Benjamin Kentish