ANDREW Fitton has urged Town fans not to pin their hopes on Charlie Austin’s goalscoring prowess just yet – urging them to be patient with the former non-league starlet.

Since the 20-year-old made the switch from Wessex League outfit Poole Town to the County Ground in October, Austin has gone on to establish himself in the first team, finding the back of the net twice in as many starts and becoming a firm fans’ favourite.

But Swindon’s chairman, pictured right, believes it is too early to expect the youngster to be prolific, and insists anything he delivers in front of goal will be a bonus for the natural finisher.

“You cannot coach goalscoring ability, you’ve either got it or you haven’t,” Fitton told the Advertiser.

“Charlie’s real skill is not his technical ability, it’s that he wants to score goals. That is the bit you cannot buy.

“We expected him to score goals this season, but were thinking he would probably come off the bench rather than start games.

“I hope they (the supporters) don’t put too much pressure on him.

“He’s still learning and finding his way in the game.

“I said to him just after he signed that he’s got all the time in the world and doesn’t need to hurry.

“If we get 10 goals out of him it will be a fantastic return and I will be delighted - 20 goals would just be the stuff that dreams are made of.

“It’s early days and feet on the ground time. Charlie has been fantastic but it’s a long season ahead and we have to nurture and look after him.”

Currently on another impressive run of form, Swindon are just outside the League One play-offs and well-placed for a crack at promotion.

And despite the odd stutter, Fitton is confident his side are moving firmly in the right direction.

“We see ourselves as being on a continuing road upwards, but these things are never straight and there are always going to be up and down moments,” he explained.

“But as long as it is clear we are heading in the right direction then we are happy.

“I track a lot of statistics and I can tell you that all our stats are exactly where we want them, except one – scoring goals.

“We know it isn’t good enough at the moment.

“I refuse to call it a problem, but we are still trying to address the issue because it will never be good enough.

“But on recent evidence maybe, just maybe, we are starting to get there.”