MARK Collier is confident he has the resources at hand to ensure Chippenham Town’s National League South campaign does not suffer from the big chill over the next couple of months.

The Bluebirds boss added the versatile Darren Mullings to his squad last week, the 30-year-old former Gloucester City man making a second-half appearance in the 1-0 defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough on Saturday.

With Tommy Ouldridge’s month-long loan from Swindon Town having expired and several injuries and suspensions poised to clear up or run their course, the Hardenhuish Park chief expects that to be it on the recruitment front for the time being.

Despite the inevitable rush of fixtures around Christmas time, Town have 11 league appointments between this weekend and the end of January and Collier believes he has covered most bases when it comes to ensuring his squad are in shape for the challenge over the winter.

Chippenham are comfortably situated in mid-table in their debut National League South campaign, 10 points clear of the bottom three and only seven below third-placed Welling United, and the manager reckons resources are well stocked for the next phase of the campaign.

“I just want to make sure we’re in good shape and covered for any eventualities,’’ he told the Gazette & Herald.

“The chances of having everyone fit and available (all of the time) are pretty remote.

“You pick up injuries, there’s a lot of travelling and people work so we need to make sure everyone stays sharp and having a decent number allows us to do that.’’

Mullings’ ability to cover more than one position made him an enticing capture for Collier (pictured), who said: “His experience is one of the reasons I got him in - he knows this level like the back of his hand.

“He’s played at the level so he can only better us.

“Darren can play in a couple of positions that can help us.

“He came on with about 20 to 25 minutes to go in the middle of midfield (at Hampton & Richmond) and once he gets his feet under the table, we’ve got a good player on our hands.’’

The manager, whose side host St Albans City on Saturday before facing Melksham Town in the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Tuesday, added: “We’ve still got (midfielder) Matt Smith out injured and James Guthrie and (skipper) Greg Tindle are suspended.

“We just need to make sure we’ve got competition for places with the tough, hard months to come.

“That’s it (recruitment) for the time being.

“Tindle will be back this week and Guthrie only has one game (of his ban) left. Smith is probably only a week away so we’re not far away from having everyone fit.’’