NON-LEAGUE football's managerial merry-go-round has turned full circle with Barry Blankley today named as John Robson's successor at AFC Totton.

It means the pair have effectively job-swopped.

This time last week Robson was unveiled as new boss of Bashley - three weeks after Blankley had resigned from the Recreation Ground in protest at the sacking of assistant manager Fraser Quirke.

Having watched Totton whip Alton 4-0 to go top of the Sydenhams Wessex League on Tuesday night, Blankley spoke to chairman John Dawson 24 hours later and agreed to take the job.

The former Saints and Aldershot defender said: "I'm looking forward to it. Football's in my blood and I'm pleased to be getting back into it with a club like Totton who have the foundations in place to build upwards. The people behind the scenes are all good, honest and hardworking."

A family reunion in Aldershot means West End-based Blankley, right, cannot make tomorrow's home game against Bemerton and he will officially take over at Hamble ASSC on Tuesday.

Handily for Totton, it looks as if Blankley's appointment will ensure that Jimmy Case will maintain his ties with the club.

The Liverpool and Saints legend helped Robson out whenever his radio work with Saints allowed and he has indicated that he will do the same for Blankley, who worked alongside Case when he managed Bashley during the late 1990s.

Totton chairman Dawson said: "We're delighted with Barry's appointment. He has experience at a much higher level than us and we wanted assurance from him that we were not just going to be a stop-gap or a stepping stone for him.

"He's assured us he is intent on giving us good service. He's a very personable man who will bring considerable knowledge, experience and contacts to the job. All the communications we've had about him have been very positive."

Dawson is delighted too that Totton have not seen the last of Case. He said: "I wrote Jimmy a letter this week thanking him for his services and he's passed a message on through Barry that he will carry on giving us as much time as he can afford. He's happy to let us use his name which is good for the club because he's a very marketable icon."

Blankley, who had three spells as Bashley manager, is no stranger to some of his new Totton charges.

He played alongside experienced defender Stuart Ritchie at Bashley and managed Robbie Savage and Chris Marwood.