King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins insisted yesterday the club will not rush into a panic appointment following Tommy Taylor's shock exit.

King's Lynn chairman Ken Bobbins insisted yesterday the club will not rush into a panic appointment following Tommy Taylor's shock exit.

Taylor resigned minutes after Lynn's 2-1 FA Trophy win at Leyton on Saturday to become first team coach at Football League Two outfit Peterborough United.

Bobbins confirmed injured midfielder Shaun Carey and experienced defender Dean West will take charge for Saturday's FA Cup first round tie at Bishop's Stortford.

"There'll be no knee jerk reaction," he said. "I've already received three telephone applications but we are determined to take our time and find the best person we can for the club. We'll meet as a board on Tuesday to formulate a way forward.

"After sitting down with the senior players we've agreed Shaun will take over this weekend, in conjunction with Dean.

"The lads are comfortable and happy with that. If they did express one worry it was the fear we would get a new manager in straight away who would look to bring in his own players. We assured them we don't want that to happen. We strongly believe Tommy has assembled a team perfectly capable of winning the league and going further in the cups."

Bobbins plans to adopt the Taylor template in his search for a successor, explaining: "If we could get another Tommy Taylor I'd be delighted. Unfortunately there aren't too many people with those qualities. I would certainly favour someone in the same vein. Tom was a good man manager and coach, you tend to find decent managers are perhaps not as strong on the coaching side and vice versa.

"When we appointed Tommy there was an enormous amount of interest at a time when the club was in administration and near the bottom of the league. Now we're on a sound financial footing and top of the table I would expect to attract some high calibre applicants."

Lynn's chairman paid tribute to Taylor for turning round the club's fortunes in his two-year spell.

"He told me it was the biggest decision he's ever had to make in football," said Bobbins. "We came in at roughly the same time and I can tell you he was quite emotional about leaving. He really liked working here and the players loved him. No one can argue that he'd done a fabulous job at King's Lynn.

"I knew during the middle of last week a professional club had offered him a contract and I don't blame Tommy at all for taking the opportunity. With the best will in the world he was getting to the stage where his chances of going back in on a full time basis were running out.

"Tommy lives and breathes football. We've always had a gentleman's agreement that if someone came in from a higher level and he fancied it then we'd part on good company."

Bobbins backs Taylor's team to respond in positive fashion ahead of this weekend's high profile FA Cup date at Stortford.

"The players were terribly down - it would be wrong of me to say anything otherwise," he admitted. "They played for King's Lynn and Tommy Taylor. Tommy had built up a marvellous team spirit and having spoken to quite a few of the lads they are determined to give it everything. They want to win for the supporters and Tommy. I think Bishop's Stortford better expect a fiery ride."

Interested applicants for the position of first team manager/coach are invited to apply in writing, with a full football cv, to 'Ken Bobbins, King's Lynn FC chairman, Dickleburgh Manor, Norwich Road, Dickleburgh, Diss, Norfolk, IP21 4NS'.