NEW Chippenham Town assistant Richard Fey says he never anticipated the Bluebirds’ disappointing slide down the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division table last season.

Chippenham’s ten-match unbeaten run, which began in October, was followed by a spell of just two wins in 19 matches, leading to an eventual 11th-placed finish for Adie Mings’ men.

Former Bitton boss Fey was watching from the sidelines at Hardenhuish Park and is now aiming to help player-manager Nathan Rudge launch another assault on the Southern Premier Division and points to the departure of keeper Will Puddy in January as the key factor in the Bluebirds’ disenchanting second half of the season.

“I came to watch the team about five or six times before Christmas and back then, they were right up at the top of the table,” said the Town assistant manager.

“I thought they might go on and win it but it obviously didn’t work out that way.

“I’m an ex-keeper and I think that having to use four different goalies didn’t help at all.

“You just can’t do that if you want to finish at the top.”

Fey said: “I’m looking forward to helping Nath. We’re two young guys who are very keen and want to do well.

“At Bitton, we’d finished in the top two for the third time in four years but the club didn’t want to apply for promotion.

“I wanted to go to the next level and now I’m going to get the chance to do that here.

“I’ve already been away with the Chippenham lads before in the past and they’ve made me feel welcome already.”