DEVIZES Town have taken inspiration from successful near neighbours Melksham Town after they tore up the blueprint ahead of the new season.

Using a squad made up almost exclusively of local players, Melksham won the Toolstation League Premier Division last term whilst their reserve and ‘A’ sides also enjoyed successful campaigns in their respective leagues.

Motivated by that success, Devizes have scrapped their policy of paying their players and have constructed a new squad made up primarily of local troops, rather than those from other towns.

Following the departure of joint-boss Justin Webster at the end of last term, Darran Walters will now take the reins at Nursteed Road, albeit with close support from new assistant Tom Perkins, and is hoping that his club’s new policy will bear fruit.

“We’ve paid a lot of money for so-called Western League players in the past and the club has decided to change our policy this year,” said Walters.

“We want to get the local lads back to the club and we’re not paying any money, so we should have people that are committed to playing for Devizes Town.

“We finished fifth-from-bottom last year, so we’ve got nothing to lose and hopefully it can help bring that good feeling back to the club.

“If you look at Melksham, they ran with local lads and only three from outside their town, and they ran three successful sides last year – hopefully we can do something like that.”

Walters also isn’t worried by the prospect of operating as a solo manager.

He added: “Justin had been here for three years and had a really good stint, so he just felt it was the right time for him to move on.

“Tom has ran a side in the Sunday League knows the local scene really well. We’ll be sharing the work-load.”

Midfielders Robbie Whyte, Rory Collins and Gus Webster have returned to Devizes whilst full-backs Ben Jenks and Jon O’Donovan have been promoted from the reserves, with striker Brad Whitbread also moving up Town’s U18 side.