CIRENCESTER TOWN chairman Steve Abbley, who sacked manager Brian Hughes after today’s 1-0 home defeat to Kings Langley, has two possible replacements in mind.

Town’s sixth defeat of the season leaves them propping up the Southern Premier League table.

Hughes’ assistants, Keith Knight and Jody Bevan, have been asked to take charge of the team for Tuesday night’s derby with Cinderford Town.

On Saturday, Cirencester have a home tie in the 2nd Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup and Abbley said: “I’m hopeful that we will have someone in place by the FA Cup tie.

“I have two names in mind, but they are both in jobs at the moment.”

Hughes has enjoyed two prolonged and successful spells in charge at the Corinium Stadium alongside his great friend Abbley, firstly from 2002 until 2006 at which time he stepped down for personal reasons and then from September 2008 until this weekend.

His sides have always punched above their weight given they operate with one of the smaller budgets in the division and he has guided Cirencester to promotion into the Southern Premier on no fewer than three occasions.

At one point last season, Cirencester were as high as second in the Southern Premier, their highest position in the football pyramid during the club’s 125-year history.

“It has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make because I have been friends with Brian since he was 16 years old,” said Abbley.

“Brian has always been a good manager but I think he has lost his enthusiasm – you can see it in his body language.

“He needs to go away, lick his wounds, freshen up and go again.

“Neither of us enjoyed last season much (Cirencester Town faded to finish 15th) and if I’m being honest I think recruitment started too late in pre-season and has been poor.

“All I want is for us to be competitive and to give every other side a game. That’s not been the case this season so far and has been very disappointing.

“I felt the season was drifting and something had to change.”