MALMESBURY Victoria chairman Paul Neale is hopeful the club can appoint a new manager swiftly and shift the focus to their on-field fortunes.

Ken Turner was axed from the Vics hotseat last week, leaving vice-chairman Martin Woodhouse and assistant manager Tony Webb to take charge of the side for this weekend’s trip to fellow strugglers Hook Norton.

Five applicants are set to be interviewed for the vacant manager’s spot next week and the Malmesbury chairman wants to see a new boss at the Flying Monk Ground as soon as possible.

“We had eight people apply but one or two of them asked about how much we would pay and player budgets straightaway, which is ridiculous in this day and age,” Neale told the Gazette & Herald.

“We’ve narrowed it down to five people who we’d like to have a chat with and I’d like to get this resolved as soon as possible.

“We need to get things sorted out and remove all this uncertainty at the club so that we can concentrate on getting some good results.”

On Saturday, the Vics were knocked out of the Bluefin Insurance Brokers Challenge Cup with a 2-0 loss at home to Bicester Town in the first round.

Daryl Harris scored a brace for the visitors.