Cheltenham Town manager Martin Allen wants to retain the services of his new assistant John Schofield next season.

Former Lincoln City boss Schofield has been working on an expenses only basis since arriving a fortnight ago due to the Robins' precarious financial position.

He has already made a big impression, conducting the majority of Cheltenham's training sessions, which has allowed Allen to travel around watching games in a bid to earmark potential signings for next term.

"John is bright, bubbly and a very good coach,"Allen said.

"He has good rapport and banter with the players and he loves football.

"He's been brilliant so hopefully in the summer we might be able to do something."

Yorkshireman Schofield was a combative midfielder for Lincoln, Hull City, Doncaster Rovers and Mansfield Town.

He got to know Allen while the two were on coaching courses together.

"He has worked himself into the ground to learn this trade, he has his Pro Licence and he is working here for nothing so what more can you ask?" Allen said.

Schofield's previous role was assistant manager to Jimmy Mullen at Walsall, but he departed when new Saddlers boss Chris Hutchings appointed his own number two in January.

The side he assembled at Lincoln had a reputation for playing attractive passing football, but they missed out in the League Two play-off semi-finals in 2007.

Schofield says it was important to stay in football after losing his job at Walsall earlier this season and he confirmed he would like to remain at Whaddon Road beyond this summer.

"I'd love to stay," he said. "I'm out of work, so I need to be showing people what I can do and this is giving me a great platform to do that.

"I get on very well with the manager. I know him from pitting my wits against him, playing, managing and coaching, and also from a number of courses you have to do to keep enhancing your career.

"The thing in football is to stay in the game in some capacity doing something, and coaching is what I like to think I do best.

"I enjoy it and I have loads of enthusiasm for it, which you have to have and there is only so much gardening you can do.

"You need to get up, get out and get back doing what you love doing."

Schofield, 43, praised the spirit at Cheltenham despite their league position.

"There is a fantastic atmosphere here and it'd be easy for people to feel sorry for themselves," he said.

"But what's been a massive plus since coming here is that the players look fresh and hungry every day. They are keen and enthusiastic and it's a great base from which to work."

Cheltenham are at home to Leyton Orient today.

Cheltenham Town (from): Brown, Lindegaard, Diallo, Townsend, Ridley, Watkins, Gallinagh, Bird, Connor, Constantine, Hammond, Durrant, Bignall, Puddy, Wright, Finnigan, Duff, Emery, Lee, Haynes, Caines.