BEN Chenery feels he was made the scapegoat for Chelmsford City’s failure to win promotion last season.

Ipswich-based Chenery was assistant manager at the Blue Square Bet South side, who lost in the end-of-season play-offs.

The 35-year-old was No.2 to former Ipswich Town midfielder Glenn Pennyfather for three years, but was released last May and appeared to carry the can for the club’s failure to win promotion during that time.

Chenery said: “I was very disappointed with the way it was done. I felt it was not justified as I had done a good job, but things change in football and people want to go in a different direction.

“At the time it was a very hard to take, and in some ways I feel I was the scapegoat.”

Chenery, who was subsequently appointed as assistant manager to Richard Wilkins at Bury Town after Richard Skelly stepped down, added: “But I am here now and determined to help this club get into that league.”

Chenery’s appointment as No.2 at the Ryman League Premier Division club, which is one step below Chelmsford’s level, has seen his career go full circle.

He started as a trainee with Ipswich Town in 1993, but left Portman Road the following year.

He joined Luton Town, where he made two appearances, before leaving in 1997 and signing for Cambridge United.

He played 99 times for Cambridge, before leaving in 2000 and dropping down to non-league level.

After a spell at Kettering he played for Canvey Island and Chelmsford, before hanging up his boots and becoming assistant manager with the Clarets.

Now that he has back involved with a Suffolk club Chenery said: “It is nice not to have to do that extra travelling.

“I suppose with living in Ipswich you are always going to have to travel further to be involved in a better standard of non-league football.

“I have always been aware that Bury Town have a great tradition for playing good football.

“I was out of football and when you are out it is sometimes difficult to get back in plus there are not many people I would want to work with, but Richard Wilkins’ philosophies are exactly the same as mine and the squad is very competitive.

“They are nice lads with lots of ability and open to my ideas as well as Richard’s, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here.”