STEVE Winter has been sacked as manager of Chippenham Town. 

The 40-year-old came to Hardenhuish Park as Nathan Rudge's assistant in the summer and was appointed Bluebirds boss midway through last month September but following a board meeting at Chippenham tonight, Winter and his assistant Adam Tudor were relieved of their positions.

Winter, who featured for Walsall and Torquay United as a player, is currently away on holiday in Egypt and missed last night's humiliating 9-0 defeat to Stourbridge.  

Chippenham chairman Neil Blackmore told the Gazette & Herald that the board were left with no choice but to take action.

"It was discussed at length at tonight's meeting and there was a vote, that was unanimous," said Blackmore.

"The club has been absolutely slaughtered online and in the media after last night's 9-0 drubbing - and rightly so - and we club had to be seen to be doing something about it. That's why we decided to relieve Steve and Adam of their duties with immediate effect.

"What disappointed me most about last night was that there seemed to be a lack of spirit in the second half.

"There are some players that really want to play for Chippenham Town and some that don't seem too bothered about it at all as long as they're picking up a paycheck - that attitude has to change."

Blackmore is in his first season as Bluebirds chairman and is about to embark on his second hunt for a new manager, just two months after Rudge resigned two games into the season.

But the Hardenhuish Park chief doesn't think that he made a mistake in appointing Winter.

He said: "I have to stand by my decision. Steve inherited someone else's squad and his remit was to put his own stamp on things and that's now going to have to be the case for the new manager.

"I do feel sorry for Steve and Adam because they're nice guys and I have enjoyed working with them.

"It's definitely been a rollercoaster ride for me so far but we have to get things right."

The Bluebirds are currently fourth-from-bottom in the Calor League Premier Division. 

Blackmore revealed a combination of himself and some of Chippenham's senior players could take charge of playing matters for this weekend's vital FA Trophy second qualifying round trip to Bognor Regis Town.

TWEET US YOUR REACTION TO STEVE WINTER'S SACKING @gazsport OR COMMENT IN THE COMMENT BOX BELOW