MELKSHAM Town manager Darren Perrin has saluted his squad for buying into what he believes could be an exciting new era for The Conigre club.

Melksham claimed back-to-back home wins over Longwell Green Sports and Winterbourne United in the Toolstation League Premier Division on Saturday and Monday to move up into the top 10 in the table.

After a difficult start, during which they failed to win any of their first seven matches and saw Perrin return to the club to replace Dave Clayton, Town appear to have staved off any relegation threat.

The club are also poised to forward proposals for a new stadium and facilities site near Melksham Oak Community School to planners, a move Perrin believes will bolster their hopes of climbing the league system.

Top scorer Gary Higdon, who scored a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Longwell Green followed by four in the 7-0 thrashing of Winterbourne, turned down an approach to join Premier Division leaders Larkhall last weekend.

Perrin sees that sort of loyalty as indicative of the attitude among his improving squad.

“I think the players can see the ambitions that are there to take the club forward in the next couple of seasons and progress,’’ he said.

“I’ve been at a few clubs in the past few seasons, but the lads we have here are right up there in terms of commitment and effort.

“It’s difficult when you are not paying players money, but we have a lot of Melksham lads here and the players can see the bigger picture here.

“I do believe the future is very bright for the club and I hope more and more players who are from Melksham will want to turn to us.

“There are quite a few players from Melksham playing at Southern League level, for example, and that’s the sort of standard of player we hope, over time, will want to be a part of the club.’’

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