DEFENDER Gareth Davies said the departure of former manager Tommy Saunders had nothing to do with his return to the Chippenham Town fold last weekend.

The former Swindon Town and Reading player admitted he and Saunders had had their differences. But he said he had already agreed to travel to Dorchester on Saturday before Saunders was sacked.

"I would have been sub whether Tommy was in charge or Adie was in charge. I told Tommy that I think on Monday or Tuesday last week," said Davies.

"People can take out of it what they want with me and Tommy. Everybody knows we've had a past where we have fallen out. But that's in the past now. At the end of the day it's not about me, it's not about Tommy, it's about Chippenham Town Football Club.

"Individuals don't matter. Everybody is one big family at this club and we are all in it together and have got to move on."

He expected to spend the Dorchester match barking orders from the touchline. But the withdrawal of Tom Gould through injury forced him into the fray.

" "Other than the half I had against Winchester I haven't done anything since Nuneaton so it felt like I had ten men on my back really. I'm big enough to take on board that I've scored an own goal. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last I suppose.

"You make mistakes but I am looking at the positives out of the game. I didn't expect to come on but I've played an hour of football with a bunch of lads who have given absolutely everything," he said.

Davies says he still gets a buzz from playing football but knows he must limit his appearances to spare his injured body.

"My knee is sore, my back is sore, my groin is sore and my fingernails are sore. I'll just have to settle down in the next couple of days," he added.

"I'm going to sit down with Malcolm and Adie and decide what I'm going to do.

"My knee isn't the greatest but I think I am going to have to play bit parts. I always said I'd help out when I could."

Davies admitted it had been a hard week for everyone at the club but praised the players for getting on with the job in hand.

"It's been a difficult week. In pro football you get the chance of three or four days to recover but the lads have had half an evening and a trip down on the bus to get their heads together about Tommy leaving," he said.

"A manager is going to be very lucky to come into this club and emulate Tommy Saunders. You do have to remember the past because without the past we wouldn't be playing Dr Martens Premier football."