VICS boss Steve Wilkes admits changing his side’s training regime was a mistake.

This season, the Trickies have gone from training twice per week for one hour per session to a single, two-hour programme on a Thursday evening.

However, Wilkes now says they will be reverting back to the old system in the new year.

“We’ve changed our training regime for this season and it hasn’t worked. I’ll be the first to admit that,” he said.

“We’re going back to the old regime of training twice a week for an hour at a time after Christmas.

“At the moment, we train for two hours on a Thursday but we can’t really run the boys then because of games on Saturdays.

“As soon as Christmas and New Year is out of the way, we’ll go back to two nights per week.”

Vics have two home games to look forward to over the Christmas period – the derby with 1874 Northwich today, Boxing Day, before Bootle are the visitors to Wincham Park on Saturday.

Due to having what Wilkes describes as “by far the best facilities in the league,” the Vics boss says his side have to deal with teams raising their game to play at Wincham Park.

He says visiting the ground they share with landlords Witton Albion is akin to “a cup final” for some North West Counties League Premier Division sides.

“The facilities and pitch are by far the best in our league,” he said.

“I don’t like saying this really but it’s like a cup final when teams come to Witton and they do raise the game.

“I’ve said this to the players – you’re playing for the biggest name in the league in Northwich Victoria at the best ground in the league at Wincham Park.

“When teams do get something, you can hear them celebrating in the dressing room like you wouldn’t believe.

“Having said that, we’ve had it for the past two years so it’s not an excuse.

“The players know that and it’s one of the reasons why they want to come and play for us.”

Two new signings made their debuts in Vics’ 1-1 draw at Padiham on Saturday.

Mike Hale, brought in from Bamber Bridge, was between the sticks, while Phillip Clarke from Conwy Borough featured at centre half.