BOBBY Gould is on a mission to save Weymouth from the jaws of relegation after replacing Alan Lewer as manager.

The Terras’ board made the decision to axe Lewer late on Saturday night after watching the team suffer a 1-0 defeat at already relegated Lewes – a loss that saw Weymouth drop in to Blue Square Premier’s bottom four.

Gould, who returns to management in England following a five-and-a-half-year absence, will now take charge for the rest of the season, starting with today’s visit of Forest Green Rovers (3pm).

The new man at the helm met up with the Terras’ squad yesterday before overseeing his first training session.

Reflecting on the challenge ahead, the former Wales boss said: “I enjoyed the training session I had with the players and I hope they did too. I just hope that I’ve prepared them properly.

“The team is on a losing run so we have to make sure that they are thinking positively and not negatively.

“I’ve been worse off than this before. Back in 1984 with Coventry we had to win on the final day to stay up, and we did it by beating Norwich.

“It’s in our own hands as we’ve got two games in hand over Woking. All I’ve said to the players is who is going to take the mantle and accept the responsibility? Who wants to be our best player? Will it be the whole 11? We’ve got five games and 450 minutes in which to do it.”

Terras’ chairman Ian Ridley believes a change was needed to stop the rot of 11 straight defeats and insists that the replacement of Lewer, who could be due compensation, will not hurt the club financially.

He said: “The board was not happy about various events in advance of, during and following the match at Lewes.

“The result was certainly not what we were looking for at a crucial time, when we have stated that the aim of the directors at least is to stay in the Blue Square Premier. We believe that is what fans want too.

“As things stood, we did not think we would do that if things carried on as they were. We believed we needed to make a change to try and lift what felt like an air of resignation about the squad.

“The board would like to thank Alan Lewer for his services in trying circumstances this season but we felt that taking no action was not the right decision.

“We welcome Bobby Gould and thank him for taking on the job knowing the difficult circumstances in what is a less costly management package than the club was previously paying.

“We don’t have vast sums of money so we would never spend what we haven’t got. The terms of Alan’s departure will be resolved between the club and himself.”

Ridley is delighted to welcome FA Cup winner Gould, who lifted the trophy while in charge of Wimbledon, to the Wessex Stadium.

He added: “We believe that in Bobby Gould we have a passionate and positive football man who can give the team and the club the impetus its need over the last five games.

“After the board decided to make a change on Saturday night, Bobby was contacted, thought about it for half an hour and agreed to take the job.

“We are certain that he can work with the existing players and along with his assistant Marcus Brown-ing, whom Bobby picked for Wales when he was their manager, will get the best out of them for the five big games ahead.”

Lewer, who originally joined the club in January 2008 as John Hollins’ assistant, said: “I can’t comment on the dismissal at the moment as I’m still sorting things out with the board.

“But in the meantime I wish Bobby Gould, the directors, and the team all the best for the rest of the season.

“I hope the club can survive and I’d like to thank all the fans for their patience, trust and support over the past few months, and I wish them all the best.”