DENNIS Bainborough has urged Bedfont Town to give his 'apprentice' Jon-Barrie Bates (pictured) the manager's job following Kevin Cooper's depature.

Cooper resigned after Bedfont lost Saturday's clash between the Southern League Central's bottom two sides 5-2 at North Greenford United, leaving them rock-bottom.

The Peacocks immediately installed former Bates, who spent the second half of last season in the hot seat as caretaker-manager, in temporary charge. Bates, like Cooper, is a former AFC Wimbledon player.

Former Bedfont boss Bainborough, who left at the end of last season due to family and business commitments in New Zealand, to be replaced by Cooper, has come in to lend a hand.

He will assist for Bates for three weeks until departing for New Zealand once more in December, where he will take charge of a Premier League side in time for the start of the Kiwi season in February.

And when he gets on that flight, Bainborough wants to see Bates, who has played under him at Southall Town, Hounslow Borough and Bedfont, take the reigns permanently.

He said: “I don't want to knock Coops as he worked hard for the club, but JB should have been given the job when I left – look at what he did last season. I hope they give it to him again.

“He will do a smashing job. To be honest, I will just be helping out off the pitch and JB will take care of the football side of it, as there's nothing more I can teach JB about the game.

“But saying that, it will be a very Dennis Bainborough side we have out. I have already got Davis Haule back from Hanwell Town, as well as Joseph Ataro, who Dagenham & Redbridge wanted to sign last season, but has drifted into playing just Sunday football. Gary Ross and Glenn Garner, who had also left the club, are also back.”

The four players who Cooper signed on the eve of the North Greenford game will also be given a chance to show what they can do – if they stick around.

Sean Lucien, who spent some time on loan from Hampton & Richmond Borough last season, is most likely to stay, but the futures of winger Byron Bubb (ex-Millwall, AFC Wimbledon, Slough, Borehamwood and Dover), striker Danilson Vicente (ex-Beaconsfield SYCOB) and centre-back Moses Spencer (ex-Molesey, Chertsey and Farnborough) are up in the air.

Bainborough added: “I watched on Saturday, and Bedfont had some big names playing, but playing with no confidence. It's hard to judge on one game, but there were good players, playing with no system.

“We can be under no illusion – I have already told the lads that finishing thrid from bottom will be seen as a success this season. We worked so hard to get into this league and consolidate in it, we cannot go back down.”

Bedfont, who lost 1-0 at Beaconsfield SYCOB in Bates' first game in charge in the League Cup on Monday night, host money-bags side St Neots tomorrow.