Cirencester Town’s manager search continues after John Brough snub

NORTH LEIGH boss John Brough’s late change of heart has left struggling Cirencester Town still searching for a new manager.

The Evo-Stik League Southern Premier outfit have been looking for a new boss since parting company with Brian Hughes earlier this month.

Chairman Steve Abbley thought he had got his man in Brough, the former Cinderford Town boss, who he claims had agreed to become the Centurions’ new boss.

However, Abbley says he later received word from Brough informing him that he had decided to remain with Southern South & West outfit North Leigh.

That blow was compounded by the news that current caretaker Jody Bevan, who will still be in charge for Tuesday night’s game against Basingstoke, ruled himself out from the running for the permanent role.

“I had agreed a two-year deal with John and we would have announced him as manager earlier but we had to go through the correct protocols as his chairman at North Leigh has been away for a few days,” Abbley told the Wilts and Glos Standard.

“John said he would prefer not to resign immediately after last Saturday’s game and wanted to speak to his chairman properly when he was back on Sunday.

“I got a long email saying how much he was looking forward to coming on board. So it was a surprise 12 hours later when I received another email – at 3am in Dubai where I was visiting my daughter – to say he’d had second thoughts.

“His change of heart is not totally unexpected. When you speak to someone who is already in work you are in danger of being gazumped and I wasn’t prepared to raise my offer. And John did say that there were only two current Cirencester Town players who would get into his North Leigh team.”

Former Cheltenham Town skipper Matt Taylor, now head coach of the football team at Hartpury College, is in the running with Abbley confirming he is interviewing another manager, currently in a job, this week.