AS a player Adie Viveash was certainly no stranger to dishing out some hard knocks, but the beleaguered Cirencester Town boss spent much of last season on the receiving end.

Relegation from the Southern League Premier Division was hardly the first thing he wanted to etch on his coaching CV, as the Centurions went down with more of a whimper than a bang.

Now Viveash and his assistant Paul Hunt have returned with a renewed appetite for the battle, and the pair are determined to lift the grey clouds that have been hovering menacingly over the Corinium Stadium.

“At times it was pretty grim last year and you can’t help but learn from something like that,” said Viveash.

“It’s the worst thing in the world as a player, a manager or a supporter turning up to games and thinking you’re not going to get a result.

“It’s very difficult to operate at this level. Every time you think you are getting somewhere you get knocked back or someone leaves the club.

“I’m sure non-league managers around the country will tell you that, so my respect goes out to all of them.

“You need to show a bit of character.

“I hope me and Oggy (Hunt) have come back nice and bright and bubbly.

“I said last year that the mentality around the place had to change and I think it has.

“This year we feel we have a lot more leaders in the group, and more people that can win football matches.

“Playing in the South & West Division is a new experience for Cirencester.

“There are some good teams and we’ll be going to some different grounds so it should be exciting. We’ll have a real go.”

The signing of former Cheltenham Town marksman Julian Alsop has raised the bar for Ciren in more ways than one.

But Viveash insists the presence of the 6ft 4in target man will not compromise his commitment to playing the ball on the ground.

He said: “I watched a few games at this level last year, and for me it is more of a footballing league.

“It’s certainly not like going to the Midlands Division where we would have had to look at totally different personnel because it’s very physical there.

“We will try and play. I won’t go to kick-and-rush because that’s not the way I like to see the game played.

“But what Jules gives you is the chance to mix it.

“We didn’t really have that last year.

“You can hit the front early with quality passing, but I don’t want to see it lumped.”