BRIAN HUGHES insists that only the managerial post at Cirencester Town could have tempted him back into football.

Hughes previously enjoyed a successful four-year spell at the club, earning promotion to the Southern Premier League in the 2003/4 season.

But he resigned for personal reasons in May, 2006 and has been out of football for more than two years.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my break," Hughes told the Standard. "I have been able to play a little club cricket and watch my kids playing competitive sport as well.

"My circumstances have now changed and I feel l totally recharged.

"I hadn’t been missing football at all until a couple of months ago. I guess football is always in you.

"Then, out of the blue on Friday, Steve (Abbley) called me and asked whether I would be interested in the job again.

"I said I would discuss it with my new partner and my kids, among others, and give him an answer after the weekend.

"I met Steve on Monday night to say yes and things have moved along very quickly since.

"You have to remember it is a hobby rather than a job, so you have got to be able to enjoy it.

"Having said that, there is a lot of commitment and it has to be done properly.

"Steve and I are old team-mates and long-standing friends and I have a great affection for the club.

"I think only Cirencester Town could have dragged me back."

Hughes’ playing career took in Swindon Town, Torquay, Cheltenham Town and Gloucester City.

When injury brought that involvement to an end, he went into coaching, firstly with the Tigers, where he became manager, before moving on to be boss at Witney Town for a year.

He joined his great friend Ray Baverstock as assistant at Cirencester and then became the club’s first manager after it moved to the newly-built Corinium Stadium.

"I had a big squad helping me before, and I will be bringing people in when things settle down," said Hughes..

"I don’t want to rock the boat, but I won’t be waiting too long.

"The players have nothing to be frightened of. I want to free them up to express themselves.

"Adi (Viveash) is a good judge and he must have seen something in all the players he brought in.

"At the moment, they are underachieving and we have to find out why.

"I sent someone along to watch the Cinderford match on Saturday and, of course, I value Oggy’s opinion."

Hughes is familiar with several of the Town squad already.

"Tom King played for me at both Gloucester and Witney," he said.

"I brought Nathan Haisley to Cirencester and I know Andy Minturn from my previous spell.

"As for Gary Thorne, I have known him for years. In fact, he used to work for my window-fitting firm!

"I don’t have a magic wand, but I am not just here to dangle a toe in the water.

"We are going to have a real go and I hope to put the smiles back on people’s faces."