Melksham Town Football Club have announced the return of former boss Kieran Baggs as First Team Manager, following the departure of Stuart Fleetwood last week.
Kieran previously led the club to promotion from the Western League back in 2018 and now returns to Melksham for a crucial end-of-season run-in. With just nine games remaining, Town currently sit 19th in the Southern League, in one of the relegation places, following a 3–2 home defeat to Brixham last weekend.
Kieran joins from Paulton Rovers who currently lie fourth in the Western League Premier Division, and will be joined by assistant manager Jamie Lyons and his backroom staff.
Speaking to Melksham News this week, Club Chairman Adam Young said Kieran had already had a big impact around the club. “His ability as a coach, as a manager, is exactly what we need at this stage of the season. We’ve got nine games left, 27 points to play for and I’m confident he can help us find the wins we need to stay in the Southern League.”
The appointment follows the departure of Stuart Fleetwood, who parted company with the club by mutual consent last week due to family and work commitments. Assistant Dan Gillespie also left his role. A club statement thanked them both for their time and efforts and wished them well for the future.
“With Stuart leaving we had to move quickly and Kieran was our number one target,” added Adam. “We approached Paulton and thanked them for allowing us to speak to him as we wanted to get him in as soon as we could.
“Kieran’s knowledge of the club, the players and the community makes him the ideal person to lead the team through this crucial period.
“Melksham is a good fit for him and once we’d chatted with him, we knew he was the right choice. He had great success when he was here previously, getting us promoted to the Southern League, and he’s always been successful in and around the area – with us, at Corsham and he’s been doing a great job at Paulton.
“He’s already had an impact, he’s reinvigorated the players and the club and he’s identified new players he’d like to bring in and that would definitely improve the squad.
“For the supporters, it’s been a very tough season. But they’ve stuck with us and with just three home games left – against Bashley on 28th March and two local derbies against Westbury and Frome – we’d love them to really get behind the team for the final push.”
League defeat and cup exit
On the pitch, Town went down 3-2 on Saturday at home to Brixham and also went out of the Wiltshire Premier Shield in the semi-final against Laverstock & Ford last Tuesday, 3rd March in what was Stuart Fleetwood’s last game in charge.
Against Brixham, the visitors took the lead through Jordan Ewing on 17 minutes before Levi Irving levelled on the half-hour mark.
Eight minutes after the break, Town keeper Adam Forster was sent off with Jake Andrews taking over in goal. Brixham took the lead on 65 minutes through Cole Harford with Aaron Wellington adding a third on 89 minutes. Jamal Lawrence pulled a goal back for Town just into stoppage time but despite a huge effort, Melksham were unable to pull level.
Melksham Town’s hopes of reaching the Wiltshire Premier Shield final were ended on Tuesday night, 3rd March, as they fell to a disappointing 2–0 defeat away to Laverstock & Ford.
The semi-final tie, which had been postponed twice at the Oakfield Stadium, was switched under competition rules to Laverstock’s ground, The Dell, near Salisbury.
Despite going into the match as favourites, Town were undone by two goals, one in each half from the Wessex League Premier Division side.
The Wiltshire Premier Shield is the county’s leading cup competition, featuring the highest-placed clubs across Wiltshire – from professional outfit Swindon Town down to Step 5 of the National League System. Melksham, who last lifted the trophy in 2000, were bidding to reach another final but will now have to wait another season for silverware.
In the other semi-final, Westbury United beat Swindon Town and will face Laverstock & Ford in the final at Melksham’s Oakfield Stadium next month.
Pictured: Kieran Baggs
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