FORMER Chippenham Town favourite Wayne Thorne has been appointed assistant-manager at Toolstation League Premier Division Melksham Town.

Thorne, who has been player-coach at The Conigre, steps up to replace Peter Cooper, who stood down after the last game of the season on Saturday after two years as assistant to Melksham boss Kelvin Highmore.

Cooper wants to spend more time coaching his son, Mark, who is on the books at Bristol Rovers. Mark Jefferies continues as goalkeeping coach.

Said Highmore: "Coops has been absolutely superb for me, but now he wants to spend more time with his sons.

"Thorney will be my new number two, and when he's playing I'll bounce things off Mark Jefferies."

  • More Toolstation League news in Friday's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News.