PAUL BODIN would love to be handed the managerial reins at Swindon Town.

The former County Ground favourite is now into his third season in charge of non-league Bath City. But the Welshman still lives in Swindon and would crave the chance to work at the club so close to his heart.

Bodin said: "I would love the job but whether they go for an experienced manager remains to be seen.

"There are a number of managers out of work. If you think in terms of a big-time manager, who's to say what has just happened with Colin Todd won't happen again.

"Alternatively you could go for someone who lives in Swindon, who has got the club at heart and really wants to take it places."

Full-back Bodin enjoyed two successful spells at Swindon and was capped 23 times by Wales. The 36-year-old came close to guiding Bath into the Conference last season and is well respected in football's lower circles.

He said: "I have been manager of Bath City for two-and-a-half years and it's no secret that I want to get back into the full-time game.

"I speak to a lot of people around the town and they really want to see players and people down at the club who care about the place.

"The fans came back at the start of the season and they will come back again if someone can take the club forward."

Bodin had been optimistic that Todd's tenure would bring the good times rolling back to the County Ground.

"With the new chairman coming in it seemed like everything was starting afresh and everybody, including myself, had high hopes," Bodin said.

"But when you bring in so many new players sometimes it does take time to gel. With there being so many foreigners it was always going to take that much longer.

"But even given their slow start, I am still surprised he walked out on the club."