JEFF Roberts knows he has big shoes to fill when he takes over from John Fisher at Highworth Town next season – but he is relishing the challenge ahead.

Legendary Worthians boss Fisher stated this would be his final season in charge of the Hellenic Premier Division side last summer, with the club setting out on a lengthy search for his successor.

Chairman Rohan Haines and the Highworth committee believe Roberts is the man to fill the void, with the current Corsham Town boss to leave his post in the Toolstation First Division to take over at the Elms at the end of the season.

With last season’s heroic run to the FA Vase semi-finals still looming large, Fisher will leave a lasting legacy at Highworth but Roberts is not daunted by the challenge.

“John has been there a long time and had a tremendous cup run last year,” said Roberts, who has previously managed Highworth’s rivals Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

“I know how highly thought of he is so it is a big role to fill but I’ve just got to get there in the summer and see what I can do.

“Outside of the Southern League I think they are one of the biggest clubs. There’s lots of scope for potential there and I know they are a well-run club off the field too.

“It’s a chance for me to manage at Step Five again and it’s an exciting opportunity.

“John plays a different style to me so I will look to make some changes. There are some quality players I want to bring in but there are also some really good players there already that I want to keep.”

Chairman Haines is equally confident that he has got the right man for the job and was impressed with Roberts’ passion for the role.

He said: “We met him twice and the first thing he said was that it’s the best job at this level in the area.

“After the first meeting the committee were ready to give him a job but we met again and more good things came across.

“Most managers you speak to are only interested in talking about budgets but that wasn’t really a factor with him.

“He was on our radar last year as we thought that if we got to Wembley in the Vase that John might go but he stayed on for another season.

“We did things the right way, we approached Corsham and said we’d like to speak to your manager and they told us he’s not under contract.

“I think they were hopeful he would stay but he will honour his year with them and hopefully he can get them promotion.

“We are sure he is the right man for the job and it’s the start of another exciting era for the club.”