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Usually the Chippenham Town dressing room is run as a democracy rather than a dictatorship.

But 24 hours before their emphatic 4-1 win over Gloucester City on Monday, the Hardenhuish Park walls reverberated with only the manager's voice.

Adie Mings had called his charges in for extra training on Sunday after their poor display in the 2-0 defeat to Merthyr Tydfil and his harsh words of wisdom paid dividends.

But the meet proved a timely reminder Mings is tightening his grip and is refusing to let standards slide with five games of the season to go.

The Bluebirds sit fourth in the Southern League Premier Division, eight points clear of sixth place Hemel Hempstead, who still harbour outside hopes of gate crashing the play-offs.

But Mings, who takes his side to relegation haunted Mangotsfield on Saturday, is determined to make sure his side don't take their place for granted - highlighted by Sunday's workout He said: "On Sunday I said my piece and it wasn't a question and answer session.

"There comes a time when you can be democratic but it is time for me to step forward and put across how things should be done.

"You have to keep your foot on the gas and reiterating the same things, only because they are young and are a little bit naïve sometimes.

"With the more experienced players you can tell them two or three times and it sinks in. With the younger lads you have to nurture and sometimes guide them a little bit."

The 39-year-old lost his customary cool after the 2-0 defeat on Friday and felt it was necessary to iron out the creases.

"We spoke about a few things and trained for about an hour," he said.

"I felt we needed to come in and address a few things.

"Sometimes you can say things in the heat of the moment and you don't always get your point across.

"I had to be left alone after the game and didn't really get it out of my system until we spoke on Sunday.

"A few people didn't perform on the day and if you get a few cogs in the wheel who don't perform then the wheel comes unstuck and can't turn efficiently."

The Bluebirds wheel' has been turning well for the past eight months with just seven defeats all season.

But their Achilles heel has been games against the other members of the top five - and their likely play-off opponents.

Chippenham have failed to win any of the seven games against their rivals, drawing five and losing two.

It augurs to be a problematic statistic come the play-offs in May, which the Bluebirds will surely make, but Mings isn't concerned He said: "Play-offs are just one off games. If you go back to the start of August I've always said, if these boys perform they can beat anyone.

"We are not looking at statistics, if they are to go by them Team Bath wouldn't want to play Halesowen or King's Lynn."

But one silver lining is their home form, with just the one defeat all season - an unfortunate 2-1 reverse to Hemel Hempstead.

Finish second or third and they are guaranteed a home game - and a bumper crowd.

Mings said: "Everyone would love to have a home game but we have to keep winning games which could push us up to first, second or third.

"In the last couple of play-off finals at Hardenhuish Park the ground has been packed and I know the people will come out and support us, if we manage to get there.

"But I am sure they would rather come and see us lift the title at home to Team Bath on the final day."

Mings still harbours hopes of a shock title victory and is continuing to tell his players to keep believing.

"I never give up hope or belief," he said.

"The day you stop believing is the day where it's not worth doing anything. We have to believe we can be the best in this season and that we can achieve things."

11:03am Thursday 27th March 2008

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