STEVE Walker fears history could be about to repeat itself after Calne Town manager Kelvin Highmore quit Bremhill View to take charge at rivals Melksham Town.

The Calne chairman admitted he was disappointed at Highmore's decision and then compared the situation to when former boss Tommy Saunders left for Chippenham Town in 1997.

Saunders took a number of Calne players with him to Hardenhuish and Walker fears Highmore's switch could 'decimate' his squad again.

Calne have just enjoyed one of their most successful ever seasons, winning promotion to the Screwfix League top flight and reaching the Les Phillips Cup, but Walker is worried some of his players could follow their former manager.

He said: "I am very disappointed because I think we had the set up and a team that could compete very well in the Premier League and possibly even achieve a top six finish.

"It is sad that now we have to almost start again. I guess it depends on how many players stay and how many follow Kelvin to Melksham Town.

"It happened to us a few seasons ago with Tommy Saunders. He took six or seven players with him and that decimated the club.

"I would hate that to happen again because there is a great team spirit and everyone gets on with each other very well."

Walker said Highmore's resignation had not come as a complete surprise to him and praised the work he had done in his three-year spell at the club. He said: "We have known for a couple of weeks that he was considering the Melksham Town job so his final decision was not a complete surprise to us.

"I can only assume he thinks Melksham is a bigger club with bigger potential and he told me he just felt he wanted a new challenge. He is leaving the club in a healthier position than when he came. He has done a fantastic job here and it is a shame he felt he could not carry on."

It is thought Highmore's assistant manager Simon Hillier will remain as a number two at Calne, despite the new Melksham manager's best attempts to lure him to the Conigre.

Walker said: "I have heard gossip saying that Simon wants to stay here but as he is on his honeymoon in St Lucia we have not had the chance to talk to him yet.

"I have sent him a text and told him I want to talk to him as soon as possible. It would be fantastic news if Simon did decide to stay.

"He has inspired a lot of loyalty at this club and all the players really look up to him. If he was to stay we would have more of a chance of keeping the majority of our players together."

Walker has revealed he has already received interest in the vacant managerial post from two people and is asking anyone interested to contact club secretary Laurie Drake on (01249) 819186.

Melksham Town chairman Mick Perrin said he was very optimistic about the future at the Conigre.

He said: "Kelvin did very well at Calne last year. He got them promotion and also led them to a league cup final, and they did remarkably well to beat some of the side in that cup run.

"We had some very good applicants and it was not easy but from my point of view the club needs to get back to a level where it knows it has to work for itself.

"We are like a working man's club. We are never going to have a lot of money and so we will have to go back to where people want to play for the club.

"He has worked his way up and now deserves a chance here. I am very optimistic about the new season and am really looking forward to it."