GRAHAM Roberts has applied for the manager's job at Chesham United just two years after walking out on the club to take over at arch rivals Slough.

GRAHAM Roberts has applied for the manager's job at Chesham United just two years after walking out on the club to take over at arch rivals Slough.

The former England defender is one of 16 applicants, including former QPR star Alan McDonald and ex-Derby goal machine Alan Biley, who have applied for the post following John Kendall's shock walkout to join St Albans last week.

Fans still haven't forgiven Roberts for leaving the club to join Slough two years ago this week.

On the strength of that, it would be a major shock if his name remains on the short-list chairman David Pembroke is drawing up this weekend.

Former QPR star McDonald, who won more than 50 Northern Ireland caps, will make the cut and is favourite to get the job. Along with ex-St Albans and Aylesbury boss Bob Dowie - who doesn't want the job - McDonald helped out with training this week.

Biley can also be expected to be on the short-list. The former Derby, Portsmouth and Cambridge United striker applied last week and spoke to Pembroke about the post last Saturday after watching United's 3-2 FA Cup win over Wallingford.

Other applications have come in from as far afield as Dorset and Sheffield and include managers already working at Ryman Premier Division clubs.

But Dowie, who steered United to Saturday's cup win, does not want the job. He already has a scouting position with QPR and wants to concentrate on that.

But he will stay on to help United choose their eighth boss is four years.

He said: 'Chesham is a sleeping giant. Everything here is ready to go for Conference football.

'They've got the backbone of a nice team. Whoever comes in could turn it around quite quickly.'

But the temporary boss says Chesham won't be going up this season.

He said: 'This season should have been used as one to build on. I don't think they've got the squad here this season to go up. The composition is not right yet and there's not enough competition for places.

'You've got five, six or seven players that are good enough. But there's not enough seasoned players.'

Dowie guided the Generals to the 3-2 win over Wallingford on Saturday with goals from Dave Stephenson, Dudley Campbell and Simon Harland.