MARK Collier is in pole position to replace Steve Winter as Chippenham boss and could be unveiled by the end of the week, the Swindon Advertiser understands.

The Bluebirds parted company with Winter on Wednesday and club chairman Neil Blackmore has received a fresh batch of applications for the position in the three days since.

But it is believed that former Swindon Supermarine boss Collier will be handed the job by the Hardenhuish Park club.

“I’m definitely going to announce somebody by the end of the week,” said Blackmore.

“What I’ve been very pleased about is that I’ve had 10 enquiries in addition to the people we previously interviewed.

“We had a very good shortlist before and I’m going to go back to that list. I’ve interviewed all of those people already and I have their CVs.

“I know that when I appointed to Steve, all of them said ‘thank you very much. If it doesn’t work out with Steve, come back to me’. I think it proves that people think this is a big job.

“I think it’s almost certain that it’s going to be one of those on the shortlist though.”

On Saturday Chippenham - managed by senior strikers Alan Griffin and Lee Phillips - were dumped out of the FA Trophy at the second qualifying round stage after losing 4-1 at Bognor Regis.

A hat-trick from Terry Dodd and an Ollie Pearce effort were enough to render Tom Knighton’s goal meaningless.

The Bluebirds travel to Redditch this evening.

In Division One South & West on Saturday, Cirencester trounced lowly Guildford 5-0 with a dominant performance in Surrey.

Lee Smith tested the home keeper early on before converting a penalty after 33 minutes following a foul on Aidan Bennett.

Veteran Jody Bevan nodded in a superb Bennett cross to double the advantage shortly before the break.

Smith increased his own personal tally following the resumption before Bennett got the goal he deserved when he fired home following a Jamie Edge pass.

Bennett then turned provider again when he set free Shane Bumphrey to put the polish on victory.