Didcot Tn 0

Paulton Rovers 0

Gary Elkins was appointed Didcot Town’s new manager following the goalless draw against Paulton Rovers in the FA Carlsberg Trophy preliminary round at the npower Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday.

The 46-year-old former Wimbledon, Fulham and Swindon Town defender had been caretaker-boss since Dave Mudge’s resignation last month.

But immediately after Didcot had drawn with Paulton, chairman John Bailey offered Elkins the role on a permanent basis.

Elkins said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been offered the job full-time and I didn’t hesitate to accept it. “The hard work continues, but I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Bailey added: “The committee have indicated unanimously that Gary is the right person to take over as first- team manager and I would like to wish him the very best.

“We try to give managers time here at Didcot because we like stability from the top down. He has played at the highest level in club football and has the respect of the players.”

Elkins’s first task after being confirmed as the new boss will be to take Didcot to Paulton tomorrow for the replay, and the right to entertain Cinderford Town in the first qualifying round on September 29.

Both sides had chances, but Didcot will be especially disappointed after hitting the woodwork three times.

Brian Bowles’s deflected shot after the break hit the bottom of a post before Ben Osman scrambled it clear.

In the last ten minutes, Ryan Tappin’s 30-yard chip cannoned off the bar, before Pablo Haysham’s shot thumped the underside of the woodwork and bounced back into play.

Didcot Tn: Belloli, Heapy, Stanley, Elkins, Peirson, Henderson, Osborne-Ricketts (Tappin 46), L Williams, Clark, Bowles (Haysham 81), M Williams.

Attendance: 115.