He then aggravated the problem in a training session before the game at Blackpool on 10 January 2006. He struggled on, "taking pills just to get through games", and played in only 15 matches that season, between his debut and 15 April 2006, when he had to be substituted in the 51st minute in a 3–0 loss at home to Barnsley. However, despite surgery in the summer, which enabled him to play four times at the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Swailes had to undergo a further operation, about which he said: "I am again in a lot of pain and it has just got worse. I had a feeling I might need more surgery and I just have to hope for the best". Following the sacking of manager Moore and the club's appointment of John Sheridan to replace him, the new man "decided to pay up the remainder of the player's contract", and Swailes was released. Swailes made his recovery on schedule in February 2007, and then went on trial to Scottish First Division Hamilton Academical, registering in time to come on as a 23rd-minute substitute in their away match at Clyde on 10 March 2007. By April, manager Billy Reid was so impressed, he offered Swailes a contract extension. "We're going to sign Chris Swailes up on a pay-as-you-play contract. I think he's been brilliant for us at the back and adds a wealth of experience," he said. "If Chris can get a pre-season under his belt, and we can get him, Mark McLaughlin and Davie Elebert playing together then we're in healthy hands in defence." In July 2007, he signed a further one-year deal, as a part-time player, allowing him to travel up for games from his base in the North East of England. Since then, he has been an integral part of the team, making regular appearances in defence, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win at Partick Thistle in November 2007, but getting sent off in a Scottish Cup tie away to Brechin in January 2008. Following Swailes release from Hamilton, he joined his home town club Gateshead on 15 June 2009 who had been newly promoted to the Conference National. "I'm a Gateshead lad and a number of my friends are members of the Heed Army so this is a great move for me, and it would be great to end my career at Gateshead". Swailes made his debut for Gateshead against Tamworth on 18 August 2009.