Only time will tell whether Geoff Chapple has made the right decision in going back to Woking.

The 57-year-old is determined to recover his mantle as non-league football's most successful manager and he wants to achieve it at the club dearest to his heart.

But it will not be easy. Having enjoyed 13 years of unbridled success with the Cards, masterminding their rise from the Isthmian League to the top of the Conference, Chapple returns to a downbeat Kingfield.

And their already bruised confidence took another battering when they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the final qualifying round in October.

Their exit was at the hands of Dr Martens League club Newport County.

Perfect start

But Chapple has also experienced some difficult times recently.

He was sacked by Kingstonian six months ago following their relegation from the Conference.

"I very nearly lost faith in human nature when I left Kingstonian," Chapple admitted.

"It makes you think about yourself more. I didn't want to be out of football for long, but I didn't want to go to games, because I'd be seen as trying to get someone out of a job.

"So I waited for the phone to ring. I honestly thought someone, somewhere, would come in for me earlier than they did.

"But when the call came from Woking, it was the one I wanted."

Chapple took charge at Kingfield three days after the defeat by Newport.

That loss was the final straw for former boss Colin Lippiatt, who has now reverted to the role of head coach.

Chapple admitted: "It was funny how it transpired. I paid my �9 to watch the Newport game as a supporter and kept out of the way as much as I could.

"Then I got a call asking me to go to the club for a chat. When I got there the whole board was there and they offered me the manager's job.

Lofty ambition

"I said yes and I'm delighted to be back. Colin called me after the Newport game and was really depressed.

"Now he's mightily relieved to get back to coaching and says he's a new man."

Just 48 hours after taking charge, Chapple had led Woking to a 1-0 win over Hereford.

Chapple's first task at the club is to cut the playing staff from 26 to about 18.

He will then look to consolidate, but he has lofty ambitions for the club.

"The club have progressed off the field over the last four years and everything is in place for the Football League," Chapple said.

"That's my aim. I've never won the Conference and I want to do it with Woking."