FORMER Bodmin Town manager Darren Gilbert has confirmed he will continue to be part of the first team management set-up at Liskeard next season.

Gilbert will be joined in the dugout by former manager Lee Mann and Bobby Hopkinson, who joined the club earlier this year and played for the East Cornwall Premier League and South West Peninsula League sides.

Mann stepped down from the SWPL role early in the 2022-23 season but remained with the club as coach of the women’s side and later helped with the running of the men’s second team.

Hopkinson started last season as player-coach at SWPL side Camelford under manager Reg Hambly.

Gilbert left Bodmin last year after 18 hugely successful years as player and then manager of the club and it was thought that he wanted to take a step back from first team management.

When he joined Liskeard it was to coach the reserve team and the youngsters but he stepped up to help Martin Hodge and Martin Chrimes midway through last season after Mann stepped down.

The Blues went on to push eventual champions St Blazey all the way, finishing third in the SWPL table and reaching the Walter C Parson Cup final.

Hodge, who had been with the club for more than 30 years as player and manager, and Chrimes stood down after the final.

The Blues’ second team, who will be playing in the new St Piran League, will be managed by Colin Wilson and Mike Hinks.