CORSHAM Town boss Nigel Tripp will step down from his Southbank post at the end of the season, the club has announced.

Tripp, who guided his side to a 2-1 victory at Welton Rovers on Saturday to all but guarantee the club's Toolstation League First Division survival, told club chairman Chris Perry he would leave his role in the summer folllowing a turbulent campaign in charge.

Tripp was sacked, then subsequently reinstated in February, following a boardroom and membership split which paralysed the club and led to the departure of the bulk of the first-team squad.

Upom his return, the new-look side won three of their next 10 games to edge away from the bottom two places in the table which would have brought the threat of a likely drop into the Wiltshire League.

Corsham conclude their season away to Portishead Town this weekend.

Perry said: "We are indebted to Nigel for his work since returning to his role in March.

"He's managed to get together a very young promising team, despite losing many of his best players during his three-week forced absence.

"He has made my job a lot easier, since becoming chairman, ensuring that we fulfilled all our commitments to both the Western and Wiltshire Leagues.

"We have been talking for a couple of weeks about the future and whilst I would prefer the details of these conversations to remain between the two of us, I fully appreciate his reasons for his decision and wish him the best of luck.''

Corsham recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Western League Premier Division triumph of 2006-07, but Perry concedes the club have fallen a long way from that lofty perch in subsequent years, while vowing to get them back on the right track once again.

That task begins with the appointment of a new manager in the summer, with Perry also planning to forge closer links with the town's youth set-up, AFC Corsham.

“We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary of winning the Western League Premier Division, the club's greatest achievement to date,'' he added.

"Since then the club has been in a steady decline, both on and off the pitch. I am committed to rebuilding this club to once again be a competitive force in Western League football, with the immediate ambition to win promotion back into the Premier Division within the next couple of seasons.

“I am now actively looking for a new manager who will also demonstrate a commitment to these ambitions and continue to encourage young local players.

"The closer link to AFC Corsham that I am trying to develop will also mean that he will need to take on an active role in ensuring young Corsham players get the best opportunity to progress into the senior squads.”

“We are trying to build a community club, an organisation that can provide football for all adults in the Corsham and surrounding areas.

"I would love to see several teams representing the club at different levels, including a ladies team.

"With a closer working relationship with AFC Corsham and the shared facilities, players at all ages and levels of ability will gain an improved experience.

“The club has made good progress off the pitch in the last few weeks with a new-look committee being formed and countless offers to help in various roles but we are still looking for a treasurer, which is a key role at any club and essential for the plans we are making.''

Perry will draw up a shorlist of targets for the manager's role but is also inviting applications for the post via email chrisperry1964@gmail.com or on 07734 309690.