DAVE Hockaday has thanked everyone at Swindon Supermarine for their support after leaving the club to join up with League One outfit Coventry City this week.

The former Swindon Town player stepped in to help out at the Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South and West club after a disastrous spell in charge of Leeds United, which lasted just 70 days.

Having acted in an advisory role with Supermarine, helping manager Dave Webb take training sessions when he was available and lending a hand on matchdays, the 57-year-old has taken the opportunity to get back into league football.

Hockaday officially joined up with the Sky Blues on Monday and has been working alongside manager Stephen Pressley with the first team.

“It all came about very quick,” said Hockaday on the move.

“I met up with some people in the middle of last week and I was invited to the Coventry game last Saturday.

“After the game, I spoke to the manager again and I am there at least until the end of the season as a coach.

“I am excited. It is a great football club with lots of potential.

“I had had lots of little bits come my way but nothing appealed and this one ticked all the boxes.

“It is a huge club with lots of potential and at the moment they can improve, so it is a great environment for me to step into.”

Hockaday will not have to face former club Swindon Town in the league this season, with Coventry having already played Mark Cooper’s side home and away.

But the former Forest Green Rovers manager has said that he will always be on the end of a phone should Supermarine need any advice on or off the pitch.

“My heart will always be with Swindon and Mark Cooper is doing a great job there but my thoughts now turn to Coventry and helping them,” he added.

“Swindon Supermarine were great people and it stopped me going mad because it allowed me to do some coaching.

“They have great facilities, with ambitious plans, and if I have helped in some small ways, then great.

“It was all about helping them through a difficult patch and helping them for the future, and hopefully I have done that.

“I have said if they need any advice on anything involving football, on or off the park, then I am on the end of a telephone line.

“I really enjoyed myself there and I wish them all the best.”

Supermarine are now in the process of finding manager Webb an assistant for the remainder of the season as they begin to plan for next season already.

“For him (Gockaday) to come from Leeds Unite to Swindon Supermarine was a massive shock to us,” said Supermarine chairman Jez Webb.

“We knew we were on borrowed time keeping him but it still came as a shock when he moved to Coventry.

“There was no real warning, so we haven’t really done anything about finding another coach.

“He’ll be sorely missed. He was an inspiration and the whole feeling around the club was so much higher than it had been, without detriment to the last coach of course.

“He did say to me that he enjoyed his time at the club more than any job he had.”