TERRACE hero Charlie Griffin returned to Chippenham Town on a permanent basis yesterday (Wednesday) when he put pen to paper on a new 18-month contract at Hardenhuish Park.

Griffin, who left the Bluebirds for Swindon Town in a £10,000 deal four years ago, has scored four times in eight Premier Division matches since signing on loan from Conference club Woking.

The striker had been frozen out by manager Geoff Chapple and was issued with squad number 23, the last on the list, at the beginning of the season.

Griffin, from Malmesbury, has taken a pay cut to re-join his first club, but is looking forward to relaunching his career at Hardenhuish Park.

He said: "I'm much happier. I can just get on with my football now. Travelling up to London, training and playing in the reserves doesn't really appeal to me. I've enjoyed my loan spell at Chippenham and it has helped that I have scored goals since I've been back.

"The fans haven't seen the best of me yet because I didn't play a lot in pre-season. I'm getting fitter with every game and hopefully I'll get better and score a few more goals."

Griffin and Malcolm Lyus thrashed out a deal on Monday and his arrival hots up the competition for places in the Chippenham front line.

Steve Tweddle, Martin Paul, Adie Mings, Matt Rawlins and Griffin will vie for two spots up front, but Lyus insisted manager Tommy Saunders is under no pressure to offload anyone.

Said Lyus: "We're way over budget now and we're just going to run with it. We've got to compete, get our 45 or 50 points, and then look at it again."

"Charlie is one for the future and he's taken a big pay cut to join us. He now has the chance to resurrect his career with us."