CIRENCESTER Town's fans have heard two pieces of good news.

Firstly, the Centurions may not be relegated from the Southern League Premier Division, even though they ended the 2006-2007 season in the relegation zone.

Secondly, Cirencester's former central defender, Adie Viveash, has replaced Neil Hards as Town's first team manager.

Cirencester should have been relegated to the Southern League Midland Division after finishing second from bottom of the Premier Division.

However, they could remain in the Premier Division to fill a vacancy created by Northwood moving to the Ryman League and Weston-super-Mare being spared relegation to the Southern League, from the Nationwide Conference South, by the merger of Yeading and Hayes football clubs.

Cirencester were still trying to clarify their situation as the Standard went to press (today).

They did confirm that Viveash had replaced Hards, who resigned after only one season. Paul Hunt will be his assistant.

Club chairman Steve Abbley said: "We had a lot of interest from across the region. The quality was such that we interviewed more than half a dozen before fixing on a short list.

"Adie stood out in a very impressive pool of applicants. His ideas, his enthusiasm and his range of contacts reflect his football knowledge and awareness of what works in non-league football.

"They make sense and are realistic. The players will know what to do and why they are doing it when they get on to the pitch."

"He had a very strong influence when he was playing for us and was very effective in bringing the best out of the younger players coming through from the Academy.

"They get a good grounding in the basics and he has the coaching experience to take them from there.

"Adie Viveash had a long and successful professional career and completes his 'A' coaching badge this summer.

"The players he signs will soon find out that he will stand no nonsense. But they will also discover that, if they make sure they keep themselves fit, listen to the guidance and put what they learn on the training pitch into practice on the field, then they will become better footballers."

Swindon-born Viveash, unavailable for comment this week because he was on holiday, made 81 appearances for Swindon Town in two spells at the club: 1988-95 and 2003-04.

He made his Swindon debut against Middlesbrough, in 1990, while legendary Ossie Ardiles was the Robins' manager.

When his professional career ended, he spent two seasons at Cirencester before leaving in 2006 to study for his coaching qualifications.

Hunt made just 17 appearances for Swindon between 1989-93 before dropping into non-league football.

He played for Forest Green Rovers but he also represented most of the local non-league sides, including Cirencester.