YOUNGSTER Ian Herring has agreed an 18-month deal with Chippenham Town and has set his sights on helping them into the Conference Two.

The 19-year-old former Swindon Town youngster joined permanently on New Year's Eve following two separate loan spells at Hardenhuish Park.

He was told he was no longer part of Andy King's plans at the County Ground in early December but impressed Bluebirds boss Steve White enough to offer him a long-term deal.

Now the teenager is focusing on helping Chippenham climb the table and at the same time try to catch the eye of league clubs in the hope of making a swift return to the professional game.

He said: "I am very happy with the deal to be fair. It gives me a bit of security for next year if nothing happens with a league club from now until the end of the season.

"I've just enjoyed playing games here so I may as well secure my future now and if something comes along between now and then hopefully I would be allowed to go.

"The 18-months takes me until the end of next season so if nothing happens at least I've got something to fall back on."

He continued: "To be honest with the state the game is in now there are a lot of people getting released in the summer.

"So I didn't want to come to the end of the season and be in the state a lot of players are in and it's good to have something for next year."

Herring broke into the Swindon first team squad having come through the youth ranks but he only made one appearance this season in an away defeat to Bristol City.

But despite his County Ground career coming to a premature end the versatile defensive midfielder holds no bitterness towards his old club.

"I was at Swindon for a long time so all in all I was happy with the amount of time I was there," he added. "I enjoyed it along the way but it was time to move on.

"The manager makes his decisions and that's what you have got to accept so you can't really say anything else on it."

Concentrating on Chippenham's fortunes for the remainder of the season Herring feels there is good reason to be positive.

"I think the league table lies a little bit because of the quality in the side that we showed in the first half against Nuneaton," he continued.

"I think we could be at least mid-table so hopefully we can get up there and get into the Conference Two with it all changing and have a good future."

He played a more defensive role on Saturday in a bid to stifle Nuneaton's attackers and was disappointed that they did not hold on to take the three.

"The manager changed the formation round and tried keeping a clean sheet and it was looking on the cards," said Herring.

"But in the second half we invited a bit too much pressure on ourselves really.

"We had ourselves to blame because the game was there for the taking but I feel the team is getting stronger."