COLIN Bush believes the sacking of Tommy Saunders was the final page of the most successful chapter in Chippenham Town's history, but he hopes it will not be the end of the story.

Corsham Town manager Bush spent five years at Hardenhuish as Saunders' assistant and during this time they achieved unprecedented success.

They guided Chippenham into the Dr Martens League Premier Division after back-to-back promotions, won the Les Phillips Cup twice and also finished as FA Vase runners-up at Wembley and Bush believes their achievements will never be matched.

He said: "It is the end of an absolutely fantastic era for Chippenham Town Football Club. There have been five or six glorious years.

"If people look back to see what we achieved then I think they will see it was equal to none.

"Whoever comes in next will have a very difficult task and it would be impossible to match what has gone on there.

"But I wish his successor all the best, as Tommy does, because Chippenham Town is still close to both our hearts."

Bush worked with Saunders at Calne Town before they went to Chippenham and over the years the pair have built up a close friendship.

When Saunders was dismissed as Chippenham manager last Tuesday evening he immediately headed over to Corsham to talk to Bush.

"I was very taken aback," he said. "We had just finished playing Cadbury Heath when Tommy said he wanted a quick word.

"When he told me it was all over it did take me a few moments to get my thoughts together."

He continued: "From my point of view it was very sad because he had some bad injury problems to key players.

"I know he felt that once these players were back he could climb the league and progress forward.

"A couple of extra months would not have done the board any harm as he would most likely have got them out of the situation they are in at the moment."

This season is the first time that Chippenham have struggled during the five and half year reign of Saunders and Bush believes the dip in results was inevitable.

He said: "In previous years Tommy and I had spoken about when Chippenham Town were going to level out.

"We discussed it and at the end of last season we felt that perhaps we had hit the ceiling and from there things would level out a bit.

"This is definitely the levelling out period as nobody can continue the sustained period of success we enjoyed.

"These were the first dark days that the club has had for six years and it is only now Tommy has left that people will realise exactly what we achieved."

Bush praised the way the departure of Saunders has been handled by the club and the former manager and wishes Chippenham the best for the future.

He said: "Malcolm Lyus is a very wise man and a very good chairman. He does what he thinks is right for the club and, like Tommy and myself, he will always have the club at heart.

"I sincerely hope a new man comes in and takes the club forward because there are a lot of good people there and it is what they deserve."

Meanwhile Bush has ruled himself out of the running for the job of Chippenham Town manager.

He said: "I am not interested in the job. I had a great time there and have great memories in the locker and that is how it is going to stay.

"We were a partnership and that is how I would like people to remember us."