CHIPPENHAM Town vice-chairman John Applegate says the door will always be open for Alan Griffin to return to the Bluebirds in the future.

The long-serving Chippenham striker chose to step away from the club due to the knee troubles that have hampered his campaign and Applegate says that he was sad to see the 31-year-old, who joined the club for his second spell in 2009, say his goodbyes to Hardenhuish Park.

“Alan is the kind of person that puts 100 per cent into everything that he does and I think the fact that he couldn’t do that anymore didn’t sit well with him,” said Applegate.

“In the last three or four games, he wasn’t really able to give it his best and that’s why he decided to step away.

“It’s a big loss. He’s been a great centre-forward and he’s a very nice man. In all my dealings with him, he’s always been really polite.

“The door is definitely open for him if he’s able to get back playing Southern League football again.”

Griffin’s fellow striker Lee Phillips is also dismayed to see his team-mate forced into a spell away from the Southern League and may now be forced to find a new travelling partner.

“Me and Griff always travelled together in the car to training and things like that – he doesn’t drive but he’d always buy me a drink,” said Phillips.

“It’s a massive loss for us but I know that Griff wanted to go out and give it his all in every game and he just couldn’t do that anymore because of his knee.

“Hopefully the break does him some good and he can be back next season, for Chippenham or whoever it is, scoring goals like he always does.

“I’ve still got to have knee surgery myself and I’m still waiting for the date for my operation but it hasn’t been hurting too much so I’ve been able to play – I’m feeling a lot sharper.”

Bluebirds manager Mark Collier added: “The thing with Alan is that he has a great all-round game – he can score goals, hold the ball up and defend in our own penalty area, so we’ve got to replace three players in one.

“Replacing 20 goals a season isn’t an easy thing to do and other players will have to step up. We’re losing a really influential player.”

Collier confirmed that Matt Coupe will replace Griffin as captain.