GOSPORT Borough, who visit Eastleigh in the Russell Cotes Cup final tomorrow night, have confirmed John Robson as their first-team boss for the next season.

It's an incredible turnaround for Robson, who angrily walked out as coach of the Sydenhams Wessex League club just over a week ago!

Having virtually promised Robson the manager's job, Borough appeared to be casting their nets elsewhere and Robson was so dismayed that he was considering packing up football. Even out-going manager Mick Marsh thought the appointment was as good as sealed and told the players that Robson would be taking over.

Borough chairman John Stimpson, who previously worked with Robson at Petersfield, said:. "We talked to several candidates for the job, but we realised we kept on comparing them to John. We contacted him and John was over the moon to get the call."

Robson - former boss of Winchester City, Totton and Bashley - will take over at the end of the season from Marsh, who is emigrating to Spain.

Rumour was rife on the non-league circuit that Winchester City boss Neil Hards was the leading candidate to replace Marsh, but the 43-year-old announced at the weekend that he will probably quit football for a year or so to concentrate on his family.

Former Christchurch joint-manager Tony Brown was back in the Priory hotseat in caretaker charge for Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Moneyfields. Brown had been due to assist long-serving coach Stuart Underwood in the wake of Pete Moore's dismissal as manager, but Underwood had flu.