BIDDESTONE boss Graham Learmonth has backed his friend and rival Mark Hodkinson to bounce back following his sacking by Bradford Town.

The Yatton Road chief believes Hodkinson has too much talent to walk away from non-league football.

Learmonth said: "Hodgy will be okay because he's a good manager. Maybe this will come as a relief and will take the weight off his shoulders.

"He needs to get back out there now and watch a few games. It won't be long before somebody snaps him up."

As a manager of another Toolstation League First Division club with no playing budget, Learmonth said he sympathised with Hodkinson's plight.

"You don't like to see any manager lose his job, even more so when it's somebody you know," he said.

"Bradford had a good season last year, but they lost their two best players in the summer. You don't just replace the likes of Steve Tweddle and Danny Holdcroft overnight.

"It's very difficult to attract new players when you have no money to offer.

"We lost Chris Snoddy and Luke Gullick this season and it may take another three years to replace them."

Hodkinson has been replaced at Trowbridge Road by Learmonth's former Biddestone colleagues Nigel Tripp and Paul Ranger, who will be co-managers.

Tripp had promised to join the Biddestone coaching staff earlier this month, but after just two sessions has left to take up his new post at Bradford.

Said Learmonth: "Nigel phoned me to tell me he would be going to Bradford. I didn't have a problem with that.

"With Paul Ranger there as well I'm sure the two of them will do fine. Paul is a successful Sunday League manager with Winsley, and Nigel has bags of experience."