JAMES Taylor has turned down the chance to stay on at Winchester City as right-hand man to his managerial successor Graham Kemp.

Having guided the club through the trickiest of Southern League seasons, Taylor was aware he would be replaced in the summer when former owner Paul McCarthy relinquished the reins.

After almost folding, City are now finding their feet again as a members’ club under the guidance of returning director of football Dave Malone and ex-Eastleigh chairman Paul Murray, both of whom were keen to keep last season’s player-manager Taylor involved in some way.

But with new boss Kemp bringing in Jim Totczyk as coach from his old club Christchurch, the Southampton-based targetman feels he would be surplus to requirements at the Denplan City Ground.

“I spoke to Kempy and told him I wouldn’t be staying because I didn’t think it was for me,” Taylor confirmed.

“I’ve got nothing else lined up yet, but I feel it’s best to make a clean break.

“I had a meeting with Kempy and the new coach and they’re going to do the coaching themselves, as you’d expect.

“They did mention me being assistant manager, but that would just be a title as opposed to an actual job for me.”

Taylor stepped in as Winchester manager on a caretaker basis following the departure of Guy Butters to Eastleigh.

With the bulk of City’s senior players leaving the club and money drying up, he had a thankless task steering a sinking Southern One South & West ship crewed by young, inexperienced players.

The situation got so bad that he doubled up as minibus driver for the game at Merthyr Town, which City lost 10-0.

But, to his credit, Taylor stuck with it to the bitter end and was rewarded with wins over Cinderford and Paulton in the last two games of the season.

“It was a hard job, but I did enjoy it, especially towards the end when we turned things round,” said the 38-year-old. “I hope Winchester do well next season. The main thing is that the club’s still going.

“As for me, I’ve no idea what I’ll do next. I’m fit enough to carry on playing, so I might just do that, but ideally I’d like some sort of coaching/playing role. We’ll see what happens.”

New City boss Kemp has still to appoint an assistant for the forthcoming Sydenhams Premier campaign and confirmed: “I spoke to James but he decided not to do it. He wants to progress as a coach, but Jim (Totczyk) is a quality coach and there’s not a position available. I wouldn’t want to give James a glorified ball boy’s job.

“Dave (Malone) has got nothing but good things to say about James and the door’s always open if he wants to come back as a player. We’ll speak again over the next couple of weeks.”