PEWSEY Vale’s Lewis Taylor says that he stepped back into the managerial breach at Ball Road with a heavy heart after Nick Maggs resigned last weekend.

Maggs made the step up to first team manager from U18s assistant coach at the end of last season but with Vale tenth in the table following Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Laverstock & Ford, which left Pewsey without a win in six matches, he decided to call time on his spell in charge.

And Taylor, who has been left to guide his team through to the end of the current campaign as joint-caretaker alongside Craig Wall, says that there was in inescapable feeling of despondency after Maggs reign came to a disappointing end.

Vale drew 1-1 at United Services Portsmouth on Tuesday evening and the Sydenhams League Division One outfit have league clashes against Tadley Calleva on Good Friday and Amesbury Town on Easter Monday (both kick-off at 3pm) to contend with before they take on Amesbury in the final of the Salisbury & District Hospital Cup at Bemerton Heath Harlequins’ Westwood Recreation Ground on May 1.

“It’s sad times really because there’s no doubt that Nick’s an excellent coach and a great guy,” said Taylor.

“It’s a shame because he was great with the U18s and had brought a lot of them through. The committee, including myself and Alan Ritchie (chairman), were convinced that he would implement a lot of things but we ended up on a bad run.

“Things had dipped a bit off the field, with things like the atmosphere in the clubhouse after games, and we couldn’t really hit a barn door with a banjo’s whatsit at the moment.

“I think Nick realised that he wanted to give us some time to sort things out for the new season but we’ve got a lot of time for him and the chairman wants him and his family to come along as guests for the cup final.

“I’d been assisting on matchdays for a little while because Nick’s number two, Craig Parsons, left quite quickly into the season. Myself and Craig Wall will see things through.

“It’s up to the committee to decide what they want to do next – do they want to advertise for someone or do they have a few likely lads lined up already?”

Vale managed to get back on track after two defeats in a row as they earned a point at United Services Portsmouth.

Luke Enderby’s first goal of the season with ten minutes to go ensured that Taylor and Wall’s side remained tenth in the Division One table but closed the gap on ninth-placed Hythe & Dibden to a point.

Tomorrow’s opponents Tadley are second in the league and beat Pewsey 2-0 when they travelled to Silchester Road last month whilst the Ball Road men slipped to a disappointing 5-1 loss in their last clash with county rivals Amesbury back on December 27.