NATHAN Rudge insists his conscience is clear over the racism charge that has landed him with a four-match touchline ban and a fine.

The Chippenham Town boss was found guilty of making racist comments towards an opposition player during an FA Cup tie with Bishops Cleeve last September and was handed the ban from the start of the league season as well as a £300 fine.

Rudge, who denied two charges relating to using abusive or insulting words and behaviour, and using words referring to ethnic origin, race or colour, must also attend an FA ethnicity course within the next four months after the verdict at a personal hearing on Wednesday.

The 34 year old consistently denied any wrongdoing and received the backing of his club, chairman Neil Blackmore attending the hearing with him this week.

Rudge described the decision handed down as "highly frustrating'' but will not appeal.

He told the Gazette & Herald: "At the end of the day, it's a raw subject. I believe I'm innocent, even though, according the the FA, I'm guilty.

"You have got to put up with it. I know what happened and people who were there with me know what happened and as long as I can look at myself in the mirror, that's all I can really do now.

"I've no option but to move on. I think the biggest problem is that I was never ever going to win anyway.

"I was accused of making racist comments and the only way I can prove that I didn't was for me to say I didn't. It's highly frustrating.

"People will have their own opinions about it all and they are entitled to have those views, but I've been in the game for 18 years and I haven't got to prove anything to the people that know me.

"Neil (Blackmore) came to the hearing with me and heard the evidence and he knows what the situation is.''

Rudge was more pleased by his side's performance as they were beaten 1-0 by an Ipswich Town XI in their pre-season opener at Hardenhuish Park yesterday.

Despite Ipswich taking the spoils with a goal minutes from time there was plenty of encouragement in the home side's performance, with summer signing Harley Purnell particularly impressive in midfield.

Rudge added: "I enjoyed it and there were a lot of plusses from it.

"First and foremost, it was a big fitness session for the lads so it was a very worthwhile exercise from that point of view.

"We needed to get minutes into the players and that's what we'll look at doing again at Calne on Tuesday (7.45pm).

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