MANAGER Tommy Saunders has launched a blistering attack on a small group of Chippenham Town supporters who, he says, want him out of the club.

Saunders came under fire after Saturday's surprise 1-0 home defeat by Barnstaple in the Screwfix Direct League Premier Division and admits the criticism hurt.

He said: "There's a small group there who started shouting that I don't know what I'm doing, but my record stands comparison with the best.

"Most of the fans at Chippenham are right behind me and the players, but there's this small group who think we have a divine right to win every game.

"Anyone who thinks we are going to beat Taunton to the title this season is an idiot, but we are now just three points behind the second placed side with two games in hand. That's not too bad a record with only a quarter of the season gone.

"If this small group can't get behind me and the team I wish they would go off and support another team."

Better news for Chippenham supporters is that leading goalscorer Steve Tweedle has signed a 12-month extension to his present contract, committing him to the club until June 2002.

Chippenham travel to Bishop Sutton tomorrow when they will be without Cutler, John Woods, Lee Collier and Hughes (all injured) and Tweedle and Burns through suspension.

On-loan striker Peter Varley helped Chippenham erase the memory of Saturday's disappointing home defeat by setting up the winning goal in Tuesday night's Premier Division game at Odd Down, but it could be his only game for the Bluebirds.

Varley, who has joined Chippenham on loan from Dr Martens League side Tiverton, broke away in the 65th minute and crossed for co-striker Dave Bright to smash the ball home from 12 yards.

With leading goalscorer Steve Tweddle suspended and Mark Cutler's appearances limited by injury, Saunders moved quickly to sign Varley, who scored the winning goal for Tiverton in the FA Carlsberg Vase final two years ago.

But Saunders revealed later: "Peter remains a Tiverton player at the moment, although we are hoping to make the signing permanent," he said.