New manager vows to play on (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

New manager vows to play on

ROBBIE Lardner insists his playing days are not over yet after being appointed Calne Town manager on Thursday.

The 41-year-old midfielder believes he still has something to offer as a player and is looking forward to combining the two roles next season.

Lardner is no stranger to being a player-manager, having done the job at Melksham Town for three seasons, and he sees no reason why he does not have at least another season left in him on the field.

He said: "I have no intention of quitting playing and I will look to play as much I can. I did not take the job on because I was thinking about finishing playing.

"I was a player-manager before and it was not easy. I had a few problems, but I am confident I can get by.

"Having said that I might turn up to training and find that I am a physical wreck and if that happens then of course I won't be selecting myself."

Since quitting as manager at the Conigre in February 2003, Lardner has been plying his trade at Bremhill View but was faced with a difficult decision a fortnight ago.

When Kelvin Highmore quit as boss at Calne in favour of Melksham he invited Lardner to move with him as his assistant manager and the midfielder admitted he very nearly went.

He said: "When Kelvin went to Calne I was seriously thinking about going with him. I loved my time there as a manager and the majority of my memories are very good.

"But I felt that having been a manager there previously it would not have been easy to go back as a number two. Kelvin is his own boss and it could have been awkward.

"Then Simon Hillier approached me to stay with him and I was not sure what I was going to do at that stage. In the end I decided I would stay because this is an improving side and I have a lot of time for Simon."

Lardner admits becoming the manager of the Lillywhites was the last thing on his mind when last season's promotion campaign came to a halt.

He said: "All this has been a bit unexpected as we have only finished the season a couple of weeks ago. All I was thinking about was having a rest.

"I also knew that Simon Hillier has ambitions of managing Calne Town one day and I wanted to be sure he was prepared to work with me and under me.

"The manager position was not an issue for me as I would have been prepared to support him but he felt that his work commitments would get in the way of him becoming manager now.

"I have some experience of managing in the Screwfix Premier League and he can learn from me and then use that experience when he finally becomes manager here."

Goalkeeper Gareth Evans has moved with Highmore to Melksham but the rest of his promotion-winning squad seem set to commit themselves for the next season.

Lardner said: "I am the world's worst predictor so I won't say how I think we will get on. This league is a tough league. I have played most of my career in it and it is hard. But we have a very young squad who learn very quickly and I am looking forward to it."