KEV BRIDGEMAN’S cheeky attempt to lure former Welsh international Danny Gabbidon out of retirement to play for Malmesbury this season may have come to nothing but the Vics’ boss remains happy about how his player recruitment is developing.

Malmesbury resident Gabbidon was delighted to be asked to present the prizes at the club’s recent awards evening.

Bridgeman, who stepped up from assistant manager when player-boss Alan Griffin decided to return to Chippenham Town before Christmas, could not resist tapping up the former West Brom, Cardiff City. West Ham, QPR and Crystal Palace defender who also played 49 times for his country.

“Danny now lives just two minutes from the club, having moved with his family down from Cardiff within the last year,” said Bridgeman.

“He was chief guest at our presentation night and is a fantastic lad, not your stereotypical footballer at all.

“Obviously he has his media commitments with Talksport and he also has a player agency in London, so playing is not an option, but he said he was keen to help out and we may get him on board with our fund raising projects.”

Malmesbury Vics will be stepping up a grade this season to play in the Toolstation Western League first division. They accepted promotion from the Wiltshire Premier in which they were title winners in 2014/15 and third last campaign.

“We will be playing at the equivalent level to the Hellenic Div One West where we were before stepping down for financial reasons in 2014,” said Bridgeman, who is delighted to have tempted two former Vics players, Josh Langley and Ant Brown, back to the fold.

“Both Josh and Ant were playing regularly for Cirencester Town in the Southern Premier at the end of last season.

“It looked like Josh wasn’t going to be first choice keeper when Ciren brought in a lad from Hereford (Harvey Rivers) and he is keen to play regular first team football.

“It’s great to have them both back with us and Josh is a fantastic signing as he had offers to play at a higher level.

“Midfielder Lee Fernandez is another player who has joined us having moved down to this level from Bradford Town.

“We have strengthened in key areas and there are still a couple more to come in. We also moved quickly to pick up two lads from the Avonvale United first team which has folded.

“I am also delighted that all but two or three are returning from last season, including Ed Wilkins, Sam Parker and Josh Hughes.”

There have been changes, too, in the Vics’ management and coaching structure.

”I now have Andy Wicks as my assistant and we also have Trevor Rawlings as part of the coaching team,” said Bridgeman.

“Trev managed Corsham in the Western League and he has access to a lot of good players. It is through him that we got Lee Fernandez.”

Bridgeman has been pleased with the level of his side’s performances in pre-season so far if not the results.

“We played Southern Premier Chippenham Town last Saturday in front of a good crowd and everyone had a great day,” he said.

“They beat us 4-0 but then they have a budget of £5,000 a week ¬– whereas ours is nothing – and they played a different team in each half.

“We lost 3-1 to Fairford Town in midweek but again that score line did not reflect the game. We dominated the match for 75 minutes until some lapses in concentration at the end.

“We have three more pre-season friendlies and start for real on August 6 away to Roman Glass St George.

“We have got some great local derbies this season with the likes of Calne, Corsham and Westbury and despite the higher standard of this league I see no reason why we can’t consolidate with a mid-table finish.”