An unsuccessful season at the real St. James' Park saw him return to Tiverton for two more years before becoming player/manager of Witheridge in the summer of 2008.
Witheridge play in the South-West Peninsula Premier League but moving back to Tiverton is a step up for Vinnicombe who will now be managing just one league below the Blue Square Conference in the Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division although they avoided relegation only because Merthyr Tydfil were deducted ten points when they went into administration.
Vinnicombe, who is expected to name Mark Saunders as his assistant, was hardly a surprise appointment. When the job became vacant, he said: "I would certainly think about the job if I was approached. I played for Tiverton for a few years and I made some good friends there.
"My name's been linked with the role for years so it's nothing new to me. Obviously it would be a step up from where I am at the moment with Witheridge."