CHIPPENHAM Town striker Steve Tweddle is to stay at Hardenhuish Park after burying the hatchet with manager Tommy Saunders.

The prolific striker was placed on the transfer list at his own request in May following a disagreement with Saunders, but no club have been willing to meet the Bluebirds' £3,000 valuation of him.

It was the second time Tweddle had asked for a move in three months, but last season's 20-goal frontman is now keen to remain at Chippenham to see out the remainder of his contract, which runs until May 2004.

He said: "I've had a chat with Tom and Malcolm and am happy now. I asked for a transfer and it hasn't come off, so I'm just going to knuckle down and get on with my football now.

"It wasn't because of the manager that I wanted to leave, I had personal reasons. I'd been here three years and maybe I wanted something else. I just wanted a change and it isn't going to happen, so I'm going to try and do the business for Chippenham next season."

One of the factors behind Tweddle's decision has been the mood in the camp. Several new faces have linked up with the Bluebirds' squad, with only a handful of the side who won promotion from the Dr Martens Western Division last term electing to play for the club in the Premier Division.

Tweddle has no such qualms about stepping up a level. He said: "Everyone is buzzing in training. I've been training all summer and am just really looking forward to playing Premier Division football.

"All the new players seem good lads. Everyone is mixing in together, training hard and that's how it should be. I felt I had lost my enjoyment of football and that's the reason I asked to leave.

"I go to work on Tuesday and Thursday and look forward to training in the evening. I'm just happy and excited and can't wait to do the business."

While many of the players are eagerly anticipating the Bank Holiday Monday clash against neighbours Bath City on August 26, Tweddle's eyes were first drawn to the away date with Stafford Rangers when the fixtures for next term were produced last week.

He said: "The biggest game for me is Stafford because I'm from there. That is bigger for me than Bath. When I was a kid I was a ball boy for Stafford and now we're there playing against them. Let's hope we can compete."

Boss Tommy Saunders is pleased the man who netted 49 times in the club's Screwfix Direct League promotion campaign has decided to stay on and insists any problems the pair have had will remain firmly in the past. He said: "We've had a heart-to-heart and he's off the transfer list. I know he loves the club and the supporters and never really wanted to leave in the first place.''