FORMER manager Barrie Vassallo has returned to help Chepstow Town climb out of a Welsh League Division Three dogfight - but has hinted that he may not stay at the club beyond the end of the season to build long term success.

Vassallo, who is now in his third spell at the club's helm and whose son Nicky has been instrumental in their recent revival, arrives after Chris Lilygreen stepped down earlier this month and takes over from caretaker manager Wayne Samuels.

But he said: "Me and Chris Lilygreen go a long way back to our time at Caldicot so I said I'd come in to help out.

"I'm not saying I'll definitely leave but I've enjoyed just watching the football and Nick doing well and I'm not sure I want to go back to being so involved. I'll think about it and then sit down with Billy Davies at the end of the season."

In his previous stints at the club, Vassallo steered Town to back-to-back promotions from the Gwent County League to the Welsh League Division Two; and then returned to keep them in Division Three.

As he prepares to repeat that feat, Vassallo is under no pretenses of what the job requires. He said: "It's not going to be great football, we just have to pull our sleeves up and make sure we're not in the bottom three at the end of the season."

"After the game on Saturday I told the boys it's obviously going to be a fight and if any of the players are not up to it then I want to know now. A few of the younger lads need to grow up quickly."

Since his arrival last week, Vassallo has already brought in John Sanderson and Lee Stanton to sure up his defence, while Mark Dunn is back and fit for Saturday's visit of Blaenrhondda. Ex-Newport County keeper Peter Mason is also ready to arrive to plug the gap in goal - but Matthew Owen is a doubt after picking up a neck injury on Saturday. Vassallo added: "I'd still like to bring in a striker and a midfielder if possible for the last 12 or 13 games, because we certainly need it. Our next three games are against Blaenrhondda, Penrhiwfer and AFC Porth and I want to get nine points from those."

He added: "Two more wins would get us back to about fifth from bottom and we've got some breathing space. But the time for talking is over and we need to get the points on the board."