CHIPPENHAM Town could be set to receive a surprise cash windfall if former defender Nathan Rudge moves up to the Conference.

The 24-year-old centre back is currently with Dr Martens Premier club Tiverton Town but has been linked with a £25,000 switch to Hereford United. He helped the Bluebirds to back-to-back promotions and the Wiltshire Premier Shield in his two years at Hardenhuish Park before making the move to Tiverton.

Rudge was sold for around £3,500 but the deal included a sell-on clause that would entitle the Bluebirds to 50 per cent of any profit from a future transfer of the player. If the rumoured Hereford move was to go through then Chippenham could expect to receive around £11,000 as a result.

Bluebirds chairman Malcolm Lyus said: "It would be fantastic for Nathan and his family if the move was to go through and it would be great for Chippenham as well. Obviously £11,000 would be a great bit of business for us and we always felt Nathan had the potential to play in the Conference.

"There was the thing with his temperament but Tiverton manager Martyn Rogers has done a fantastic job in helping Nathan improve his game.

"Even if the Hereford move doesn't come off then Nathan could still move to the Conference in the future."

If the club does receive a cash windfall from any future Rudge sale Lyus said the money would be channelled into the running costs at Hardenhuish.

"Like with most non-league clubs crowds are down at the moment and our directors are picking up the shortfall of running costs at the end of each month," the chairman continued.

"Any money we might receive would be put into towards covering those costs."