New manager in place by next week

Having parted company with manager Hughes, pictured, two weeks ago after their 1-0 home defeat to Kings Langley, the Centurions are hoping to make a final decision on his replacement when chairman Steve Abbley returns from a break.

Caretaker manager Jody Bevan, who takes the Centurions to Chesham on Saturday in the EVO-STIK League Southern's top flight, is one of a number of candidates in the running for vacant post at the Corinium Stadium after stepping up from his former role as number two to Hughes.

A decision could be made as early as Monday and Bevan, who guided the club to a 3-2 win over Cinderford Town in his first game in charge to lift them off the bottom, is looking forward to it, whichever way it goes.

He said: “It's been non-stop since I took over as caretaker manager and some of things I've had to do have been a pain in the backside, but I have enjoyed the football side of it immensely. The lads have been fantastic and taken everything on board. But the sooner the decision is made, the better."

Hughes left the club for a second time following a previous spell at the helm from 2002 to 2006 after his side's sixth defeat of the season back on Saturday 10 September left them propping up the EVO-STIK League Southern's top flight table.

Abbley confirmed he expected to appoint his new manager by the start of next week in a statement on the club's website.

He said: "I have a short list of three, in order of preference, but I will be out of the country until Sunday and I won't announce my decision until I get back."

Image courtesy of www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk

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