FORMER Chippenham Town boss Tommy Saunders hopes he can one day emulate his success at Hardenhuish with his new club Swindon Supermarine.

Saunders was unveiled as Ray Baverstock's replacement at Hunts Copse after Marine's 1-1 draw with Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.

The outspoken 32-year-old led Chippenham from the Screwfix League to the Dr Martens Premier Division with back-to-back promotions and also took the Bluebirds to Wembley for the 2000 FA Vase final.

Results failed to come this season though and Saunders left the club by 'mutual consent' at the start of November.

But two months on and he is back in the game and admits he is a little nervous about the challenge that lies ahead.

"I've missed football and it was always my intention to get back into the game," said Saunders.

"I wouldn't say I am feeling excited about my new role at the moment more apprehensive.

"I've seen Supermarine play loads of times and I know some of the players personally. But I was only introduced to the players on Saturday and had the first training session on Tuesday.

"Our first two or three games are going to be very tough. This Saturday we away against Halesowen who are managed by my good friend Brendan Phillips.

"I speak to Brendan two or three times a week on the phone and they are currently third in the league."

Saunders said it was his aim to help get Marine onto a similar level to Chippenham and Salisbury.

"We have a small supporter base here and it is one of my tasks to help increase the crowds," he said.

"It will take a long, long time for me to emulate what we did at Chippenham but if we could do that in the long term it would be superb. My realistic expectation is to finish mid-table this year but I wouldn't want to manage at this club next season unless we can win the league."

It had been rumoured that Saunders might try and tempt some of his old Chippenham players to join him.

But he has said he will not be making widespread changes to the Marine squad he has inherited until at least the summer.

"I hope to have exactly the same squad I have now at the end of the season," he said. "Then I will look at areas that might need changing.

"People might think players will drop down a league to play for me but that isn't going to happen.

"None of the current Chippenham players will want to join me. Maybe a couple of former Chippenham players might like Shane Andrews or Grantley Dicks but we will have to wait and see."

One fixture that is bound to create some interest is Marine's home clash with Chippenham in the second leg of the Wiltshire Shield on February 4.

But Saunders said the game is no more important to him than any of Marine's other league clashes.

"I'm really not bothered about the cup game next month," Saunders added. "At the end of the day 90 per cent of the players playing for Chippenham will be my players.

"We are already 4-0 down anyway and there is a massive gap between the players wages of the two side.

"I really don't have an axe to grind with people at Chippenham to be quite truthful.

"If we were to draw Chippenham in the cup next season then that would be more interesting because Supermarine will be more my team.

"I hope they when they get through they will thrash Swindon Town in the final. I've already had an awful lot of Chippenham people wish me the best in my new job."

Saunders has yet to appoint an assistant-manager and says he has not got anyone in particular in mind.

"At the moment I've got no idea at all who will be my assistant will be," he continued.

"What I would like is someone who will take the lead in training and someone who wants to be hands on."

Marine chairman Steve Moore said he was delighted to land a manager with Saunders' experience.

"His pedigree is second to none," said Moore. "Locally no one has achieved more and we're delighted to be able to bring him here.

"We are optimistic that he will help us move forward. He's excited by the possibility and so are we."