THERE will be no shortage of candidates to replace Darren Perrin if, as expected, the Chippenham Town manager loses his job tomorrow.

Former Chippenham fans' favourite Wayne Thorne said: "If Darren is sacked there are a number of people who will want the job because Chippenham is a big club with a bright future,"

"Adie Mings will have done himself no harm with the win on Saturday. I went to watch and I thought Chippenham played very well."

But Thorne, now player-coach at Melksham Town, says supporters should stop speculating about who the next manager will be until Perrin is formally sacked.

Thorne, who spent four years at Hardenhuish Park between 2002-6, including one season under Perrin, said: "Everyone is talking about who the next Chippenham manager is going to be, but there might not even be a new one.

Darren still has 18 months to run on his contract."

"Darren is still the manager and until that changes, everything else is just speculation.

"I even heard on the radio the other day that my brother, Gary, had been lined up as Adie's number two. But when I spoke to Gary he said he knew nothing about it."

Thorne added: "I've known Darren very well both on and off the pitch and he's a very hard working bloke who always does his best for Chippenham Town.

"Results have not been good this season, but that has not been helped by lots of suspensions and a number of injuries to key players.

"I also think the players have to look at themselves. I might not have been the most talented player in the world, but I always gave 100 per cent for Chippenham."

Perrin was suspended last week for what secretary Chris Blake described as "a number of football issues" and will learn his fate after a board meeting due to be held tomorrow.

His number two Adie Mings, who took charge for Saturday's 3-0 win over Hitchin, is expected to take the reins until the end of the season if Perrin is sacked.

Mings yesterday denied claims he had already been lined up to replace Perrin, and Thorne believes the deal is far from closed.

Thorne described Perrin as a "good motivator," who has been missing a backbone to his side this season.

He said: "Both myself and Gary left in the summer, as did Matthew McEntegart, so that's three experienced defenders gone.

"I still love Chippenham and it hurts me to see them struggling. We were only a few minutes away from the Conference South last season.

"I still think the club has a chance to go up through the play-offs this year, but we'll have to wait and see which direction the board take."