WINGER Steve Brown has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken left leg.

The 28-year-old collected the injury in the early stages of the goalless draw at Worcester on March 1 and received the shattering news at Bath's Royal United Hospital on Friday.

Staff at Worcester Hospital had told Brown his shin was badly bruised rather than broken, but a re-examination of the original x-ray late last week showed the tibia bone in his left leg had in fact been fractured.

He faces six weeks in plaster and is resigned to the fact his first season as a Dr Martens Premier Division player is over.

Said Brown: "As the week went on I realised I couldn't put any more pressure on it and started to wonder whether there was more to the injury.

"But I'm quite optimistic over the healing process and have been told I should make a 100 per cent recovery because the bone is just cracked, not dislodged or displaced.

"I'm bored to tears at the moment, just watching television and reading papers, but I've got to keep my leg up.

"I'm disappointed that it has happened, but I have been playing at senior level for 11 years and have been quite fortunate until now. I wouldn't want to go through this again, though."

Brown is already looking forward to next season and is preparing for contract talks with manager Tommy Saunders. He said: "I have spoken to Tommy about a contract for next year. Although nothing has been finalised, there is no other club I want to play for.

"I'll be rooting for the boys while I am out injured and then have three months in the summer to get ready for next season."

Saunders believes the long-serving wide man will be missed. He said: "Everybody in the game knows he's my best mate and I'm absolutely devastated for him. He's given everything for Chippenham for four or five years, but it's not the end of the world and he'll be out of plaster in six weeks time.

"We'll be sitting down in the next few weeks to sort him out a contract for next year, no question about it."