The search continues for the next St Neots Town manager – almost a month after previous boss David Batch resigned.

Academy manager Andy Davies is overseeing first-team affairs at the Southern League Premier Division club with input from director of football Iain Parr.

Chairman Lee Kearns has not succeeded in attracting a couple of his preferred targets to fill the vacant hotseat, and continues to pore over applications for the post.

He said: “We held advanced discussions with a couple of potential managers, but we’ve not been able to pin either of them down.

“It is a big ask to expect anyone to leave a job they’re currently in to join us for what is initially a short-term job to be reviewed at the end of the season.

“Andy and Iain are more than capable of seeing us through to the summer, but it’s not something I particularly want to happen as they are employed in other areas of the club primarily and we want their focus to be on them.

“On the other hand, we won’t make a panic appointment. We will make sure we get it right.”

Davies collected the second victory of his time in caretaker charge when St Neots saw off bottom side Bideford on Tuesday night.

Loan striker Dipo Akinyemi opened his Saints account to set them on the way to a 3-1 victory at the Premier Plus Stadium, with all the goals arriving in the second half.

Akinyemi, who is on a work experience loan from League Two side Stevenage, converted a Peter Clark pass to grab his first St Neots goal in his second appearance for the club.

Brett Longden spectacularly doubled the lead soon afterwards only for basement boys Bideford, who faced a 500-mile round trip for this midweek fixture, to halve their arrears.

Saints sealed the points when a Josh Dawkin cross was turned into his own net by visiting defender Chris McGrath.

The victory carried Saints 13 points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a short trip to Cambridgeshire rivals Histon this Saturday. They then host promotion-chasers Hitchin on Tuesday.

Kearns added: “If we don’t stay up, it will be our own fault.

“We’re in a position where we have plenty of games to come against teams around us and we need to make them count.

“The aim is to secure our safety as soon as possible and then we can fully focus on building for the future.”