SWINDON Town's record signing Mark Robinson will make his playing comeback next season in the Dr Martens League Premier Division with Chippenham Town.

The 33-year-old right back became new summer signing number nine for manager Tommy Saunders on Tuesday night and follows in the footsteps of ex-Town colleague Gareth Davies in stepping down to non-league football with the Bluebirds due to injury.

Robinson quit the professional game in February, just a month after Davies, after failing to sufficiently recover from a double hernia operation the previous summer.

He was the club's longest serving player, having joined for a club record £650,000 from Premier League outfit Newcastle United in 1994.

Robinson, who lives in Minety, is hoping to use his considerable league experience to help Chippenham's bid for a mid-table spot in the Premier Division next term.

He said: "I kept in touch with Gareth and he's come down here and told me what a good set of lads they have. It is a bit more low-key and I didn't want the full time commitment of the training.

"I just couldn't do that at Swindon. It was getting to the stage where I was in pain every day and I just didn't need it. I'll just train when I can and play in the games. Tommy and Malcolm are happy for me to do that and that's what I'm going to do. I'm quite looking forward to it. I've had quite a few months off now and am getting itchy feet."

Robinson is looking towards obtaining personal fitness training qualifications with a view to opening a gym of his own and may also carry out scouting duties for Swindon manager Andy King at midweek games next season.

Although he faced some of the country's top strikers, Robinson is confident he can adapt to life in the Dr Martens League. He said: "I'm 34 this year and just wanted a little bit of football to keep my hand in. I enjoy playing at the end of the day, that's the main thing, and I just want to play as long as I can at whatever level."

Manager Saunders said: "For someone like me to sign a bloke who has played 450 league games and has played for Newcastle, I am absolutely thrilled.

"I'm sure I'll learn lots and lots of things from him, as I have from Gareth and a few of the more experienced lads, and he'll learn from me the ways of non-league football.

"He wants to keep playing at the moment, but in five years time he might want to move into management. This would be a good grounding for him.

"It is a fantastic signing for the club and, if this doesn't excite the people of Chippenham, then we might as well all give up."