SAM Collier has agreed to remain as Royal Wootton Bassett Town manager until the end of next season.

Collier took over at the Hellenic League Premier Division side in January 2018 on an interim basis following the departure of Rich Hunter from the Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground.

That position was made permanent last summer and following a solid first full campaign in charge, the club have now acted to prolong his tenure by announcing he will remain as manager for the 2019-20 season.

Bassett chairman Andy Walduck said: “I’m so pleased that Sam has decided to stay with us into next season.

“This gives us an early start in allowing us as a club to focus on building for 2019-20.

“We’ve been highly impressed with the improvements on the field of play under Sam.

“Through improved coaching standards and access to a strong pool of players, our first team have remained competitive and, hopefully, will achieve a top-half finish at the end of this season.

“The recent appointment of Matt Bulman as his assistant has also boosted the quality of the management team, and they have the making of a dynamic management duo.

“It’s not only in regards to the first team’s performances that we’ve been impressed, though.

“Sam is a clubman through and through, supporting the club in social activities and, importantly, working alongside our head of youth section Mari Green in helping integrate our senior and youth sections, which is important for us.

“Sam is a valued and key member of our senior section. Objectives for next season have been agreed and we look forward to supporting Sam in achieving those goals.”

Bassett currently sit seventh in the Premier Division table having won 12 of their 31 league fixtures so far.

Town have just five games left to play this term, with the next assignment for Collier’s side being a trip to bottom club Longlevens on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Shrivenham will look to stretch their superb winning run in the league to a 12th game when they travel to Lydney Town on Saturday.

Gareth Davies’ side have picked up maximum points in the league since mid-November, form that has seen them climb up to sixth in the table.

Fairford Town are without a game on Saturday.

There is also a fixtureless weekend for Division One West sides Malmesbury Victoria and New College.