SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Rudge won't budge as Bluebirds slump goes on (From Swindon Advertiser)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Rudge won't budge as Bluebirds slump goes on

6:00am Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport

NATHAN Rudge has taken full responsibility for Chippenham’s difficult season but is refusing to back down from the challenge of escaping the Southern Premier relegation battle.

The Hardenhuish Park player-boss saw his side thrashed 4-0 at Arlesey last weekend and the Bluebirds are now 16th, just a point above the drop zone.

Rudge denied he attempted to shift the blame for the defeat to his players and says criticism will not deter him from battling on to end his team’s 15-match winless run.

“This season hasn’t gone as I’d hoped it would and I know that the responsibility for that is mine - the buck stops with Nathan Rudge, I know that,” he said.

“Some people seem to think that I was trying to deflect the blame to the players when I said the players have agendas outside football.

“But that’s just stating a fact because they do have other things to think about in their lives. For me, football is everything.

“If people want to carry on slaughtering me, then that’s up to them, but I’m not going to stop working as hard as I can for this football club.

“I’ve got no excuses and I never shied away from a fight as a player so it won’t be any different as a manager.

“What we need at the moment is wins and I’m not interested in what anyone else does. We’re in a mini-league of five teams and the only good thing is that we’re top of that at the moment.”

Rudge is struggling with a toe injury while James Guthrie is rated 50-50 for this weekend’s home clash with league leaders Leamington.

In Division One South & West, Cirencester have the weekend off from competitive action.NATHAN Rudge has taken full responsibility for Chippenham’s difficult season but is refusing to back down from the challenge of escaping the Southern Premier relegation battle.

The Hardenhuish Park player-boss saw his side thrashed 4-0 at Arlesey last weekend and the Bluebirds are now 16th, just a point above the drop zone.

Rudge denied he attempted to shift the blame for the defeat to his players and says criticism will not deter him from battling on to end his team’s 15-match winless run.

“This season hasn’t gone as I’d hoped it would and I know that the responsibility for that is mine - the buck stops with Nathan Rudge, I know that,” he said.

“Some people seem to think that I was trying to deflect the blame to the players when I said the players have agendas outside football.

“But that’s just stating a fact because they do have other things to think about in their lives. For me, football is everything.

“If people want to carry on slaughtering me, then that’s up to them, but I’m not going to stop working as hard as I can for this football club.

“I’ve got no excuses and I never shied away from a fight as a player so it won’t be any different as a manager.

“What we need at the moment is wins and I’m not interested in what anyone else does. We’re in a mini-league of five teams and the only good thing is that we’re top of that at the moment.”

Rudge is struggling with a toe injury while James Guthrie is rated 50-50 for this weekend’s home clash with league leaders Leamington.

In Division One South & West, Cirencester have the weekend off from competitive action.