JEREL Ifil believes Town fans can look forward to an exciting new era in the club's history after signing a deal to keep him at the County Ground until 2010.

The Town defender was the first of Paul Sturrock's out-of-contract players to be tied down for next season, while others felt the full force of a wielding axe.

Former Bristol City winger Aaron Brown has been released along with second-year youth scholars Jon Stewart, Scott Doe, Luke Hopper and Ben Wells.

Dennis Wise's favourite Curtis Weston has been told he can look for another club while Paul Evans will have to prove his fitness before contract negotiations start with him.

Youth team skipper Chris Allen has signed a two-year professional contract, while Sturrock admits there are still plenty of decisions to be made over his remaining out-of-contract players.

Ifil, 24, has already made 156 appearances for the Robins since signing from Watford in July 2004, including two previous loan spells, and insists there was never any danger of him looking elsewhere.

Promotion to League One has re-ignited the enthusiasm for football in Swindon and Ifil insists there is plenty more to come on both a collective and personal level.

He said: "I have always said that being in League Two meant we were under-achieving. Swindon Town is a top League One club at the least, Saturday's celebrations showed that.

"The team should be pushing for the Championship next season and, with the management now in place and getting things done their way, the fans know the club is in safe hands.

"The potential at Swindon is massive. The fan base is there and I believe if we can continue getting the results then the fans will come back and there will be a lot to look forward to." Ifil's early capture will be a relief to both Sturrock and fans alike, with rivals already known to be hovering, but he believes with the coaching structure in place at the club, no-one has seen the best of him yet. He said: "I can only get better. I think the management has helped me progress and the more settled I feel the more it will help my game. "During our relegation season I don't think I played particularly well but I am convinced things will be different this time round, with the club in much better shape. "I started looking for houses in Swindon yesterday and once me and my family are settled in the town, then so much the better." Town boss Sturrock believes the signing of Ifil was a key move as he looks to cement a solid spine for League One next season. He said: "Ady Williams has helped Jerel a lot, as has Jamie Vincent. Coach John Blackley has honed him and started getting some of the foibles out of his system. "He has simplified his game but we still need to work with on the ball. He is big, quick and strong and has all the attributes to be a major figure in the team. "It was very important to get this done before the season finished. We now have two goalkeepers, Jerel, Lee Peacock and Sofiene Zaaboub signed up. "Strikers have to be our next priority."