DIDCOT Town chairman John Bailey has a simple message for the club’s next manager – keep us up.

The Railwaymen are just a point above the drop zone and Bailey said it was vital they stayed in the Zamaretto Southern League’s top-flight.

“That will be his first job – to keep us up and steady the ship,” he said.

“Then we can see what happens next season.”

Bailey said he had been staggered by the response of potential applicants for the vacant manager’s job.

It follows the departure of boss Stuart Peace, who left after saying he could take the Premier Division strugglers no further.

He said as soon as the news became public, eight people had been on the phone to express an interest in taking over.

“I have been surprised by how many applications there have been. It’s been huge,” said Bailey who has been chairman since 1995.

“We’ve had 30 to 40 applicants for the job. And it’s not just people from this area – we’ve even had people ringing in from up north and south Wales.

“Some well-known names – ex-professional footballers – have been in touch, although some of them are still employed which makes it difficult for us to appoint someone straightaway.

“Most of the people have passed their UEFA badges, so they could help with the coaching, so I’m not sure whether we would need to appoint a coach. That would depend on who we bring in as manager.”

He said Howard Cowley, Peace’s assistant, would continue to look after the team until an announcement on the new manager had been made.

The side is likely to be unchanged for the trip to Worcestershire.

Bailey added: “We may well have someone in place for Saturday (they travel to Evesham).

“Everyone that has been in contact with us about the job has complimented us on how well we run the club and how much they would like to be a part of it.

“Ideally, we are looking for someone who is local, so that they can take training without too much travelling. Stuart lived nearby which was ideal.

“I think once we advertise the job then we are going to be inundated with applications.

“Then it will be just a case of sifting through them to get the best one.”

Didcot Tn (v Evesham, away): from Smith, Warrell, Heapy, Gunn, A Williams, Stanley, Organ, Dutton-Black, Alexis, Huggins, Osborne-Ricketts, M Willi-ams, Bartley, Lawrence, Griifin, Tabor.