JAMES Constable signed for Chippenham Town and the striker believes he could be the man to arrest Chippenham's slide down the Dr Martens Premier League.

Constable, 19, has been Cirencester Town's fourth choice striker this season but Chippenham manager Steve White moved quickly this week to bring him to Hardenhuish on an 18-month contract.

He could go straight into the squad for tomorrow's match at Chelmsford and if given the opportunity he is determined to take it.

He said: "I am really looking forward to the challenge. I am not daunted by the fact Chippenham are near the bottom of the table.

"Obviously my aim has to be to break into the first team and then to score the goals to keep me there. I am confident in my own ability.

"We have to be looking at the new Conference League next season as there is definitely the quality to get there."

The striker played for Cirencester Academy for the previous two years where he combined playing with studying for a BTEC in sports science.

At the start of this season he progressed to Cirencester's senior team but he has failed to make the impact he wanted to there.

He said: "I absolutely loved playing at Cirencester and to be honest I was gutted that I had to leave.

"But I needed to do what was best for me and that was to accept the move to Chippenham.

"Cirencester have got two very good strikers in Scott Griffin and Gareth Hopkins and with Jody Bevan on the bench I was really only fourth choice."

Constable spent a year at Chippenham Town Youth when he was 14, sandwiched between spells at Malmesbury Town Youth.

He represented Wiltshire under 18s in their county cup run to the quarter final last season and was selected to play for England Colleges on a tour of the USA in March this year.

Constable, who lives in Malmesbury, played the entire 90 minutes in Chippenham's behind closed doors friendly against Paulton on Wednesday night and he was impressed with what he saw.

He said: "It was really enjoyable. There is no doubt we have a good team. The lads were great to me and made it easy for me to settle in. I already know Charlie Griffin from when he used to manage my older brother's team and Mark Hervin from his days at Cirencester."

He was brought to White's attention by the Chippenham manager's scout Sean Hughes. White went to watch him in action last Tuesday night for Cirencester against Bath City and then approached the youngster.

Constable said: "I didn't have a clue he had come to watch me and I only found out when I got a call from him later.

"He said he was impressed by what he saw and asked me if I would like to sign for Chippenham."

White said: "He is only a young boy and seems keen and eager to learn. He has that pace and ability to get in behind the last man.

"I am taking a bit of a chance on him but I am confident he will repay me."