FORMER Swindon Supermarine boss Mark Collier is aiming to bring the feel-good factor back to Chippenham after being installed in the hotseat at Hardenhuish Park.

Following a two-and-a-half year spell away from management since leaving the Webb’s Wood Stadium, Collier was named as Steve Winter’s successor on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old, who interviewed for the job before Winter was handed it in September, will take charge alongside assistant Tom Jones with the pair hoping to breathe life into the Bluebirds’ ailing Southern Premier campaign.

“The first job is to get them back on track and get a few faces smiling because there’s quite a bit of doom and gloom off the back of some bad defeats,” said Collier.

“I will be meeting the players on Thursday night (yesterday) and the first thing will be to say how me and Tom want to play the game.

“It’s important for everyone to pull in the same direction on and off the pitch and if we can get a few good results then we’ll be heading the right way.

“Initially the aim is to get some points and start climbing the table, the team is very low on confidence and has been conceding a lot of goals, so we need to address that.

“Once we’re away from the bottom which is going to be very tough, we’ll start looking forward, but the first aim is to bring stability.

“We fully understand that this is a competitive division and points are difficult to come by.”

The Swindon-based Collier will attempt to bring new blood into Hardenhuish Park in the coming weeks but has promised existing squad members that they will be given the opportunity to prove themselves.

“I know most of the players as I’ve followed what’s been going on and I’ve watched them three or four times,” said Collier, whose first game in charge will be at home to Cambridge City tomorrow.

“I don’t know many of them personally, maybe four or five, but like any new manager I’m inheriting a team I’m happy to work with.

“I will certainly look to bring in fresh faces as the squad is quite thin and there are injuries and suspensions coming up.

“That’s not an easy thing to do as players are attached to clubs and it will take time, so in the meantime the players that have the shirts on their backs will have the chance to impress.

“Everyone will be at the same starting blocks and be off a clean slate.”

Collier had two spells in charge at Supermarine and guided the club to promotion to the Southern Premier, as well as the second round of the FA Cup and the last 16 of the FA Trophy.

Since departing the Webb’s Wood in early 2011, he has busied himself with coaching and scouting for various non-league clubs, many in the Southern League.