FORMER Chippenham Town striker James Bent will ply his trade in the Ryman League Premier Division next term at Chesham United.

Bent fired 20 goals as Chippenham won promotion from the Dr Martens Western Division last term, but rejected Tommy Saunders' offer of a new contract in May.

He became Chippenham's first ever full-time player when he signed from Yeovil Town in January and left Hardenhuish Park to pursue his ambition at a Nationwide League club.

But Bent has yet to attract the attention of a professional club and has instead decided to move to Chesham, where his former Glovers boss Colin Lippiatt is now the manager.

Despite the sideways move to a club at the same level of the non-league period as Chippenham, Bent feels he has made a step in the right direction.

He said: "I fancied a change and a move to a more professional club. I know the manager and he is a good one and I just want to try my best there.

"I'll try it at a different club in a different league and hopefully get back to playing full time.

"The club are paying to put me up in a B&B in Chesham at the moment, but I'm looking to get my own flat and a job up there now."

The likes of Aldershot Town and Canvey Island are likely to contest the honours in the Ryman Premier Division again next term, and Bent is hoping for a season of consolidation.

He said: "We're not really aiming for promotion this year because we are a really young squad. If I can be half as successful there as I was at Chippenham then I will be pleased."

Bent became a fans' favourite last term and was back at Hardenhuish Park to watch his two former teams do battle on Tuesday night.

He said: "I'll always look out for the Chippenham scores. After seeing their display against Yeovil on Tuesday I think they are looking sharp.

I don't think they'll challenge for the title, but they have a big squad and you never know what is going to happen."