STEVE Claridge is planning a Football League comeback following his Weymouth sacking.

The veteran striker is currently nursing a hip injury but says he hopes to return to the full-time game shortly.

And the former Leicester City star today revealed how Terras chief executive Martyn Harrison's decision to sack him 13 games into the Nationwide South season was 'premature'.

He told Echosport: "I don't think I will ever fully understand or accept the

decision to sack me - even now I am completely stunned by it.

"I accept I made a few mistakes during my time in charge but the simple fact is we were only 13 games into the new season and there was time to achieve our aims.

"I guess by finishing second in the Dr Martens Premier Division last season I made a rod for my own back.

"Every manager goes through good and bad spells, that is the nature of the game.

"We were having a mixed run of form but people have to look at the bigger picture - and anyone who knows anything about football would accept that.

"We were only a few points off the play-offs and had a good enough squad to achieve our goals this season.

"What cost me my job is a number of individual errors and some bad luck - there is a fine line between winning and losing.

"The FA Cup replay at Thame summed up our season in a nutshell - if our chances that Thame cleared off the line had gone in, none of this would have happened.

"We didn't contrive to make two individual errors which ended up costing us dear.

"I have to say as well that I am a little bit disappointed and surprised by the reaction of some fans who seemed to have turned on me in recent weeks.

"Everyone was pulling together last season and there was a great buzz around the ground because everything was going so well.

"But when we started this season below expectations - and I accept that - a little bit of perspective of how far we have come as a club was required.

"Unfortunately that did not seem to happen and I paid the price."

The 38-year-old now plans to take stock before mounting a playing comeback.

"I've got a hip injury at the moment but I'll be over that in a couple of weeks," he said.

"But I want to carry on playing and still think I have got plenty to offer someone at a good standard.

"I now plan to concentrate on that side of things, but hope to get back into management some day."

Claridge - a top media pundit - praised those who work behind the scenes at the Wessex Stadium and thanked the club's fans for their support.

"I've only been here for 15 months but it's certainly been a rollercoaster ride," he said. "In general it's been a great experience and I've worked with some super

people who I can't speak highly enough of.

"I'd also like to thank the club for handling my sacking in a professional and dignified manner. Once the decision was taken, they did everything right and I want to thank them for that.

"I also want to thank the vast majority of fans who were supportive and really got behind what myself and Ian (Ridley) tried to achieve.

"Unfortunately it did not work out as well as we would have liked, but it's been a great experience and I wish everyone all the best."