PAUL West stepped into the manager's seat at Common Road for a second time earlier this week, writes Mervyn Collins.

The popular assistant manager has been at Common Road for almost ten years and took over when Phil Mullen left in 2003 for a couple of matches before being installed to work alongside Dave Busst.

"Westy", meanwhile, admitted to being a "bit surprised" by the manager's departure, but vowed to give it his best shot to keep Evesham in the Premier Division.

"The mood among the committee wasn't good after Saturday but I spoke to Dave earlier today and, looking at the aftermath, the facts are that we haven't got enough points on the board and that needs rectifying quickly," the temporary manager admitted on Tuesday.

"You now what I'm about - you can only do as much as you can in my position. I've got to look forward now but you can't forget what Dave did for the club.

"I've got a few ideas and a strong belief that we've the quality to turn things around but, I am totally focused on trying to keep the club in the division but under no illusions about the size of the task."

West was overseeing training last night when a chat with the players was high on the agenda.

"There are a few issues to sort out," he admitted. The main thing is to stick together, the quality is there but confidence is low and, with only 12 games remaining, the priority is to get the players to respond as quickly as possible."

The new man in charge is expected to ring the changes for Saturday's visit to high-flying Bedford Town.

Rob Taylor, Grant Pink-ney, Danny Hodnett and Shane Benjamin are all expected to be fit but West is unsure as to the precise make-up of his squad.

"The players that I want will be there on Saturday but there will be players leaving," West revealed. "It will be a matter of some of them having to go but I will be sitting down with the chairman and discussing the immediate situation soon."

That particular aspect of West's task was echoed by Busst.

"The budget warrants where we are in the table - it's nothing to do with me failing as a manager," the departing boss admitted.

Busst also backed the players to keep United in the top flight, while also underlining his potential for would-be future employers.

"The players haven't let me down - you just get what you pay for," he acknowledged. "I can't question their commitment, they are all prepared to lie down and die for the club.

"That's what I bring to a club but we have just paid the price for lacking a little bit of quality at the higher level."