FORMER Chippenham Town and Gloucester City captain Matt Coupe, who retired from football last year, is training with Cirencester Town and mulling over a possible return to the game.

The vastly-experienced 38-year-old defender has also played for Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, Clevedon Town and Aberystwyth Town.

He came out of retirement to help his former boss at the Tigers, Dave Mehew, by playing seven games for Mangotsfield United in the run-up to Christmas when the Mangos had a shortage of fit defenders.

“Matt lives a couple of doors away from Oggie (Hunt) and has started to come into training,” said Cirencester Town boss Charlie Griffin.

“I think he got his appetite for football back while playing for the Mangos.

“He has said he will tell me what he wants to do in a week or two.

“If I had the experience of my brother Alan, Glyn Garner, Gethin Jones and Matt Coupe six weeks ago we wouldn’t be in the position we are in now.”

Coupe will not play any part in the Tuesday night friendly with Malmesbury Vics at the Corinium Stadium, where Griffin will run the rule over a couple of triallists in former Centurion right back Ryan Elliott, most recently with Wantage Town, and central midfielder Mason Thompson, brother of another ex-Cirencester Town player Connor, who is at Swindon Supermarine.

Garner and Jones will not be travelling from Wales for the friendly.

“My players like Robbie James and Max Lloyd need some time on the pitch and we will also look at some of the Development lads including Sam Farr and these two triallists,” said Griffin.

“I’m sure that Kev Bridgeman’s Vics side will give us a good test.”

The game kicks-off at 7.30pm weather permitting.