NO ONE will be more determined to help Chippenham Town beat the drop than their new assistant manager Ron Needham.

The 46-year-old was born and bred in Chippenham and is passionate about the club where he played as a ball-winning midfielder for 18 years.

He was coaching the club's under-14's when Steve White plucked him from relative obscurity and asked him to be his assistant manager.

Needham said he was extremely flattered to be asked to help White reverse the club's ailing fortunes, considering White's wealth of football contacts.

"It was my home town and it was always my aim to play for them and do the best I could for the club," he said.

"Steve doesn't believe in sentiment and he asked me because he obviously thought I was the right man for the job and I will do all I can to live up to the faith he has shown in me.

"When I played it was with limited ability, but with total passion and I aim to make sure that rubs off on the current crop of Chippenham players."

Needham, 46, who lives in Yatton Keynell, said he believes he will help balance the new boss's style of management .

"I have the utmost respect for Steve and everything he has achieved.

"I think I will be a good foil because I will be able to put my arm around the players shoulders, keep them happy or discuss any problems and hopefully keep them smiling," he said.

He said his role is to try to get to know the players characters and made a point of speaking to every player who turned up at the new manager's first training session on Tuesday.

And he said he was confident that with Steve's professionalism the club will be able to turn the corner and build on the success of the past few years.

"We have to think positively because we're both winners," he said. "We both want success for this football club, which drives us on," Needham said.

He said he would continue to coach the club's under-14s, which he has run for four years.

"I'm really looking forward to our first game on Saturday against Basingstoke.

"Our job is to coach the players, train them, and give them every chance to perform to their best on the pitch."