ALAN WRIGHT is hoping a change in manager will bring a period of much-needed respite for Cheltenham Town's beleaguered defenders.

Temporary skipper Wright, 37, is closing in on his first full year at the club and admits the going has been tough as the Robins battled right to the last to guarantee their League One survival last season.

There has been little chance to enjoy the fruits of their labours, however, as Cheltenham have started the season on the end of a number of severe beatings that finally condemned former boss Keith Downing to the axe.

The arrival of new manager Martin Allen has breathed life into the current campaign – but Cheltenham have still found life difficult after being under the cosh for long period in both their recent games against Bristol Rovers and Milwall.

They take the field against Stockport today with five new arrivals in the side and cultured left-back Wright, who previously plied his trade in the top-flight with Aston Villa and Blackburn, is hoping that will help ease the pressure after 12 months of almost Alamo-like defending.

He said: "I didn't know what to expect when I came. I knew that the club would find it difficult to stay in the league and it proved to be like that when we managed to survive on the last day of the season.

"It has been a very hectic year but enjoyable all the same. I think in general that the lower you go down through the leagues you get less time to take a breather during games.

"In the Premier League it is a case of defending, getting the ball forward and then it doesn't come back for five minutes.

"It is a completely different game at this level, even though there are some very good players, and it can be a little bit smash and grab. I have played at this level before as a youngster so I wasn't totally unaware of what I was coming into but it has been nail-biting to say the least.

"That hasn't changed since Martin has been here although we feel we have done well in the two games following his arrival.

"It has still been a bit backs to the wall and we have had to dig in but I am hoping all the new faces that have come in will help things become a little less nail-biting."

Allen completed his fifth signing in ten days with the capture of Charlton striker Stuart Fleetwood on a month long loan deal yesterday. Young Premiership duo Lewis Montrose and Josh Payne arrived earlier in the week to join defender Drissa Diallo and midfielder Scott Murray who both played at Millwall last week.

Wright said: "There are going to be a lot of changes.

"Until things settle down we are not going to know what Martin's preferred starting XI is.

"We can either gel very quickly or it will take a bit of time. I think the proof of the pudding will be in the eating and we will just have to wait and see how it goes on Saturday."

An energetic Stockport side, however, will provide a stern test of Cheltenham's credentials. A convincing 3-0 hammering of Leyton Orient on their last away day trip sent out a stern warning: This recently promoted side has no intention of being anybody's whipping boys.

"We know that Stockport are a young energetic side because that is all Martin has told us about them," Wright added.

"He is more interested in what we do and if we perform to the level we are capable of there shouldn't be a problem."

Cheltenham (from): S P Brown, Perry, Diallo, Montrose, Townsend, Caines, Wright, Gallinagh, Murray, Payne, Russell, Low, Owusu, Connor, Fleetwood, Vincent.