ADIE Mings' biggest regret about his move to Weston-super-Mare is that he didn't get chance to say goodbye to the Chippenham supporters, but he could still be back at Hardenhuish Park in the play-offs.

"I hope it doesn't come to that, it would be really difficult for me,'' said the 35-year-old striker.

Manager Steve White tried to insert a clause into the deal that took Mings to Weston to prevent him playing against Chippenham but such was the club's haste to get Mings off its wage bill, the board refused to hold out for its inclusion.

Mings scored two goals and could have had a hat-trick on his debut for Weston in a 2-1 win over Eastbourne on Saturday. Both goals were typical muscular Mings efforts, one a shot past the keeper after bundling a defender out of the way and deflection off his knee as he threw himself at a whipped-in cross.

"They weren't spectacular but I don't tend to score 25-yarders,'' he said.

The move ended three years at Chippenham but Mings hopes he might make a return one day.

He said: "You never know, perhaps when I finish playing I might come back in a managerial role. I've learnt a lot here and I've got a lot of experience to pass on.

"I've learnt a lot from Steve this season about man management and training. He has played at the top level but we do think the same about the game.''

Mings made one last visit to training on Thursday night to say goodbye to the players he fund himself in charge of after the sacking of Tommy Saunders.

"Steve let me have five minutes with them and I shook their hands and thanked them for helping me when I was assistant manager at the start of the season and manager after Tommy left,'' he said.

"It was very emotional for me to move on. I really felt part of the club. I am just sad I didn't get to say goodbye to the fans, they have been brilliant with me since I came back here.

"They knew I am a Chippenham lad, the only one in the team, and they were very supportive.''

He said many of his former teammates were dismayed at the club letting him go but he is far more realistic about the situation.

"It was always going to happen, especially after Malcolm Lyus the chairman left,'' he said. "I had helped the club by going out on loan to Gloucester but when I came back I knew i wouldn't be staying.

"The board told Steve he had to cut the budget and so I had to go. I am just delighted that a club like Weston, who are at the same standard, thought I could do a job for them. They made me feel wanted and that was important to me.''

His new club are set to move into a £1.5 million new ground in the summer and the progression is in strict contrast to the uncertainty he is leaving behind.

"It is strange that it has turned out like that,'' he said. "I think malcolm leaving has shown the board they can't rely on one person. I am not a businessman but even I can see the club needs another income, like from a clubhouse that is open during the week.

"Unless it sorts that sort of thing out I fear the club will just tumble backwards to where it started.''

Mings feels promotion to the Conference Two is the last thing the club needs. "If they stay where they are in the Dr Martens league they are likely to have six local derbies a season and get crowds of up to 1,000.

"In the Conference they are going to have more expenses but no big games like that. They are better off staying where they are and getting themselves sorted out first. They have come a long way too quickly.''