CHIPPENHAM TOWN: New boy All right for Town (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN: New boy All right for Town

3:30pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport By Dan Barnes

RICHARD Fey is backing new boy Jack Allward to be a future hit at Chippenham Town.

The Bluebirds signed Allward, 25, from Paulton Rovers ahead of last weekend’s ill-fated clash with league leaders Leamington.

Chippenham assistant manager Fey says that the former Bristol City trainee, who has also had spells at Halesowen Town and Mangotsfield United, is another signing for future at Hardenhuish Park.

“Jack is someone that we’ve been after all season and he did originally want to commit to Paulton but he’s decided to come over to us – we’ve got to say thanks to their manager (former Bluebirds player Nick Bunyard) for de-registering him,” said Fey.

The Bluebirds are also hoping to extend the loans of Exeter City youngsters Jacob Wannell and Jordan Tillson.

Fey said of Allward: “We’ve got to work on his fitness a bit but he loves to get forward and I think he could end up being a great left-back for Chippenham.

“It’s another signing for the future for us but, of course, we’ve had to bring in players to make sure that we stay in this league – we’ve probably had too many so far this season but that’s because it’s been a learning curve for us.

“The loan players will all eventually go back to their parent clubs but players like Jack, Tom Knighton and Joe McClennan are all ones that can do really well for us next season too.”

Saturday’s clash with Leamington was called off by ref Lee Sheridan just 15 minutes before kick-off, disappointing supporters and meaning that the Warwick-shire visitors had a wasted trip.

Fey says that his side were frustrated by their late postponement and fancied their chances of turning the form book on its head against the Brakes.

“It was frustrating – we wanted the game played and so did Paul Holleran (Brakes’ manager) and Leamington, for obvious reasons,” said Fey.

“Our chairman was still at the ground at 3.45 and he said that there were puddles all over the pitch, so there wasn’t really any way it could have been played.

“Lee Phillips was out with a rib injury but we had Tom Knighton and Alan Griffin up front and we weren’t going to be trying to hold on to the point we started the game with. We were set up to go for all three.

“I feel sorry for the supporters, especially the ones that came down from Leamington but I’ve got to say thanks to our fans though because the noise they were making was great.

“Hopefully they’ll come and give us the same kind of support at Totton this weekend.”

Chippenham striker Lee Phillips was ruled out of last weekend’s postponed clash with Leamington but goalkeeper Ben John is nearing a return from injury.

John has missed the Bluebirds’ last two outings, with on-loan Cardiff City goalkeeper David Richards deputising between the sticks.

•  Chippenham’s home clash with Leamington has been rearranged for Tuesday April 16 (kick-off 7.45pm).

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