SHANE Andrews is gunning for a new contract with Chippenham Town as he continues his recovery from a long-standing back injury.

The 27-year-old defender made his first start in a home league game for almost six months on Saturday and is looking to make up for an injury-ravaged 2002/03 next term.

Andrews' lack of first team action in recent weeks has alerted Western Division sides Clevedon and Mangotsfield, but he is determined to force his way into manager Tommy Saunders' plans for next season.

Said Andrews: "Obviously it has been a very frustrating year for me having to watch the boys play. I'm out of contract as well in the summer.

"A few clubs have tried to buy me over the last couple of months, but I want to stay at Chippenham Town.

"Tom has said he wants me to stay as well, but the clubs were going to offer me a two-year contract and he was letting me know for my benefit.

"But I chose to stay and fight for my place. I don't want to go anywhere. I live in Chippenham and have played for Tommy and Nobby since I was 18 or 19. Hopefully I can really work hard in the summer and come back stronger, then hopefully I can have a really good year at it.

"But Tommy might say he doesn't want me. We've got to sit down and discuss that, but I love it here and don't want to go anywhere."

Andrews picked up his injury in the pre-season friendly matches against Newport IOW and Team Bath, and aggravated the problem by playing a handful of matches in the opening weeks of the season while not fully fit. He believes the Bluebirds' current injury crisis has much to do with their punishing early-season schedule. He said: "I don't know if it is bad luck, or whatever. But I don't think it helped at the start of the season when we played ten games in 30 days on the hard pitches.

"My back was hurting and everyone was feeling it. I think that is the reason we have had so many injuries. It was a bit of a culture shock after being eased into it last year.

"Colin Towler is out there with a bad hernia and a bad groin and is still doing the business. Adie Mings also needs a bit of a rest and is working so hard for the team."

Andrews admits the road to full fitness has been far from smooth, but was pleased to play an hour at right back on Saturday before being replaced by JP Mills as Saunders went for the jugular.

He said: "Tom threw me in at left back at Hinckley and I came through the first 45 minutes there. I was doing all right there, but he took me off to make a tactical substitution and I was a bit frustrated with him.

"He knows I've got a bit of a temper and we had a few words, but I understood his position and he said he was trying to look after me. On Saturday I had an hour out of position at right back. I felt comfortable and the back is not too bad at the moment."

Andrews is wants to compete with Tom Gould and Colin Towler for a central defensive spot. He said: "I'm finding it hard to come back into the form I was in last year because I haven't played for six months and am not playing at centre half. But I've got no qualms with that, the two centre halves have been outstanding this season.

"I'm just trying to work my way back in and whatever minutes I get on the pitch between now and the end of the season is a bonus."