CHIPPENHAM TOWN: We won't go down (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: We won't go down

3:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Owen Houlihan

ADIE Harris refuses to entertain the notion that Chippenham Town could be relegated – but insists the squad must set their sights a lot higher next season.

The tough-tackling midfielder returned from suspension in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with play-off chasing Barwell which stretched the Bluebirds’ run without a win to 14 matches.

Mid-week results left Town just three points away from the drop zone with Saturday’s tough trip to Arlesey followed by another difficult visit to Cambridge City and then leaders Leamington at home.

The Barwell display was a much-improved one though – Town being denied by a late equaliser – and former Bath City midfielder Harris insisted that was symptomatic of their season to date.

“I know the cliche says that you are not too good to go down, but we won't go down, I have no doubt about it,’’ said the Welshman.

“I know you can’t keep blaming luck, but I’ve never played in a team that has had so much bad luck. It’s unbelievable.

“We’ve had so many draws and you look at those matches and we should have won every one. We could easily be stood here in a play-off position. Then we had the snow and injuries and suspensions and it’s totally disrupted the team.

“I know I was stupid. I’ve been suspended twice and that was only my fourth game since January.’’

He added: “It’s a shame. With the squad we’ve got, next year we’ve got to be looking to really push it to go up. There are no two ways about it. When I first came here, we were tearing teams apart for two or three months and just weren’t having the rub of the green.

“We’ll rebuild next year. The manager is getting the players he wants in and that is key.

“You have got to have a good 16 or 17 players who are capable.”