JAMIE REID will decide in the next fortnight whether to put his management career on hold at Hardwicke and return to a playing career for Fairford Town.

Reid did Jody Bevan – his former Cirencester Town team-mate, now Fairford Town boss – a favour by turning out for the Reds at Cinder Lane against Longlevens recently.

Also in the Fairford side were other Cirencester Town alumni in Lee Smith, Josh Morse and another veteran doing the gaffer a good turn, Lyndon Tomkins.

Fairford’s two most recent clashes with Longlevens had seen them go down 5-1 and 6-2 but this time they played out a battling 1-1 draw.

With Reid and Tomkins both unavailable in the next match, Hellenic Premier side Fairford again lost at home to Binfield on Saturday.

Twelve league and cup games into the season Bevan has yet to register his first win as boss – hence the need for the cavalry.

Reid, a Cirencester Town stalwart and a member of Brian Hughes’ promotion-winning side in the 2009/10 season, underwent a second cruciate ligament operation on December 7 last year. While unable to play he took on the role of manager at Hardwicke in Div One of the Glos County League.

He even recalls Bevan playing for him at Hardwicke last season – and scoring a really good goal against Bishops Cleeve Reserves.

“Jody wants me to knock management on the head and come and play for him regularly,” said Reid. “I’m only 29 and I do feel I still have something to offer at this level.

“I’m committed to Hardwicke and I don’t want to abandon them. But I plan to play a couple more games for Fairford and then make a decision. I’m just helping Jody out in midweek at the moment.

“I had to wait an age to get my latest op done on the NHS – all last season in fact. Getting back 100 per cent has been a slow process. My knee is fine but I am not fit yet.

“When Jody asked me to play against Longlevens the other night I said I only had an hour in me but I ended up staying on for 77 minutes. I really enjoyed it."

Reid believes Bevan is close to turning the corner with his Fairford side.

“Jody has some good players at Fairford,” said Reid. “Josh Morse is very good at Hellenic level and that goes for Smudge (Lee Smith) too.

“Managing a team in the county league I know how good Liam Gale is. When I saw him play at Stonehouse I thought he was the best player in the league.

“Jody has brought myself and Lyndon in to provide a bit of resilience and game management.

“We more than matched Longlevens for an hour and fully deserved our point. We tired towards the end as the game became stretched.

“Whatever I decide with regard to Fairford I want to pursue management at the end of my playing career.”

Fairford Town are back in Hellenic Premier action tonight when tackling Brimscombe & Thrupp.