IT MAY have come as a shock to many when former Leeds United manager Dave Hockaday appeared at Swindon Supermarine but for the 57-year-old it was all about giving something back.

Since the roller coaster ride under Leeds owner Massimo Cellino came to an abrupt end in August, the former Swidnon Town defender, who played more than 200 games at the County ground, has been enjoying a break from the game.

However, when he received a phone call from a friend asking if he could help out Southern League outfit Swindon Supermarine he could not say no.

Hockaday, who moved to Swindon in 1983 and spent seven years with Town, has taken an advisory role at the Webb’s Wood Stadium and has been impressed by the ambition the club have shown.

“Jez (Webb, chairman) phoned me up. We met up a couple of times and he said ‘if you can help in any way, then just help’ and that is basically it - I am just helping,” said Hockaday, who is happy to be back involved in the local football scene.

“I have talked to them about the ground because they are a very ambitious club and have got lots of land and have planning permission for a 3G pitch. I think they are going to put an extension on the clubhouse so it is doing things off the field too.

“On the field they have lost their way a little bit, so I have gone to watch them train and talked to Dave Webb, who I know because we played veterans’ football together.

“I watched them train and I’ve watched them play, and they have been very gracious and let me take a couple of sessions.

“I have taken to Swindon and hopefully Swindon have taken to me so anything I can do to help in and around Swindon, I am very happy to do.

“My ambition is to obviously coach in the Football League sooner rather than later and that could happen in days, weeks or months. And in the meantime, I am there at the end of a phone for Jez, for Dave, or anybody at Swindon Supermarine who just wants my advice.”

Hockaday and Supermarine manager Dave Webb have played together for Hungerford Vets and Newbury Vets, where they won the national trophy at Villa Park, and the former Forest Green Rovers manager is happy to re-ignite their relationship.

Hockaday has already been using his contacts with his former clubs to add much-needed depth to the Supermarine squad and hopes to continue helping until he finds himself a permanent role in the Football League.

“I have been in football for 40 years now and I wasn’t looking for it but somebody asked for my help and I am very happy to give it to some really decent people, who have ambition off and on the field. I am there to help them out.

“I’ve helped them bring in one or two players. Obviously I can help just talking to Dave about tactics and whatever.

“I have coached in every league - the Premier League, the Championship, first division, second division, and the Conference - and there would be something wrong if I couldn’t help in some way.”