MANAGER Darren Perrin believes Chippenham Town would have been crowned Southern League champions this season if star striker James Constable had not signed for Walsall.

Constable swapped Hardenhuish Park for the Bescott Stadium in November and the Saddlers' striker has watched from afar as the Bluebirds' wings have been clipped by the chasing pack. Another two points dropped against lowly Cheshunt on Saturday has left Chippenham with a mountain to climb in the race for Conference South football.

Dave Gilroy has shouldered the strike burden well with 22 league goals this campaign, but Perrin insists Constable would have transformed his squad from play-off hopefuls into league champions. He said: "When you have to sell your leading goalscorer to Walsall half-way through the season it's bound to have an effect. I'm convinced that if we still had James Constable we would have won this league."

Perrin knows that some members of his squad are starting to feel the pressure as the clock ticks ever closer to the season finale on April 29. He said: "Of course the players have a bit of anxiety after the heartbreak of missing out on promotion last year. It's important now that we stay strong and positive and it's up to me and Adie Mings to make sure we do."

Though Perrin has refused to concede the title, he knows Chippenham cannot afford to drop many more points during the run-in. Tomorrow's (Saturday) match with play-off outsiders Banbury United is crucial if the Blues are to keep within touching distance at the top.

He said: "If we have to go up via the play-offs we will have played more than 60 games this year, and we have picked up injuries and suspensions along the way. "This is my first season as manager and it's the players first season together. We look like we're going to finish with more points than last year, so whatever happens it has been a great season."