FORMER Newport IoW boss Steve Tate has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant manager's job at Bashley.

The 35-year-old striker, who finished last season with an FA Vase winners' medal for Winchester City, is keen to get back into management after a promising baptism was cut short when Newport were plunged into the receivership late last year.

Tate, a former AFC Bournemouth youngster, would relish the challenge of relaunching his managerial career at the club he first joined as a raw 19-year-old.

He confirmed: "I'm extremely interested in the Bashley job. It was my first non-League club and I shared in some good times there. I know things haven't gone so well there in the last few years, but that doesn't scare me.

"Newport went into receivership twice during my time there, so I understand the pitfalls of non-League football."

Tate, whose well-travelled playing career included stops at Havant, Waterlooville and Weymouth, admitted: "No one can doubt my experience on the football field, but what could go against me is my lack of experience as a manager.

"But I took Newport up to sixth in the Dr Martens Eastern Division after we came out of receivership the first time and we were on course for a top-eight finish before we went back into receivership."

Lymington & New Milton's former Bashley skipper Jimmy Sheppard has also expressed his interest in the post, which became available last week when the Foresters parted company with John Robson by mutual consent.

However, according to Bashley's vice-chairman/director of football Derek Binns, the decision on Robson's successor will depend on the extent of the club's ambitions next season in the Isthmian Division 1.

Speaking ahead of last night's executive committee meeting, Binns said: "We've had two or three phone calls about the job, but first of all we've got to decide which direction the club will take. Are we looking for promotion or will we need a longer period to build up the side?

"The club worked very hard last season and put a lot of money into trying to get promotion, but it didn't come off. We need to look now and see if we're capable of sustaining a promotion push.

"It's a difficult job with a village side and it's all about getting the right sponsorship."

Former Andover supremo Ken Cunningham-Brown has long been linked with the post, but Binns shrugged: "The only thing I've heard about it is what I've read in the papers. He's never made an application or spoken to me."

Robson's assistant manager Ricky Haysom is still with the club.