Highmore makes a shock return to Calne (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Highmore makes a shock return to Calne

9:29am Thursday 28th May 2009

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Calne Town have re-appointed Kelvin Highmore as their manager and he says he wishes he had never left in the first place.

Former Devizes Town boss Paul Thompson will join as his assistant and goalkeeper, replacing the team of Rob Lardner and Simon Hillier, who have stepped down after four years at the helm.

Highmore was previously in charge at Bremhill View from 2001 to 2005, before moving to Melksham Town, and he has turned down two other jobs to put right his previous mistake.

“I had a couple of other options and was writing down positives and negatives but sometimes it’s better to go with the devil you know,” he said.

“I took Calne out of the Division One, lost in the Les Phillips cup final then left.

“On reflection I’m not sure I made the right decision.

“It’s all ifs and buts, but when you look at it with the benefit of hindsight maybe I should have stayed.” Highmore has been without a club since his controversial sacking from Melksham a year ago, just days after winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

“The way it all happened, I still resent it a bit,” he said.

“But I haven’t got a point to prove.

“When I finish in football I want it to be my decision rather than someone elses. I started to miss the game terribly as well. It would get to midday on a Saturday and I would start shaking and getting withdrawal symptoms.”

Departing boss Lardner says he made his mind up at the start of the year to leave and felt enough was enough after four years.

“We’ve had some good laughs, performances and results and some bad days along the way,” he said.

“This season has epitomised that as we had a lame finish after Christmas.

“There were lots of circumsances which contributed to that and, while it wasn’t always easy, the loyalty of the players was fantastic. I shall miss them and the club.”

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