Oakley has eyes on first pro deal (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Oakley has eyes on first pro deal

6:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in STFC News By Andy Warren

WALES Under 21 international Aaron Oakley is determined to show new boss Kevin MacDonald that he deserves to be handed his first professional contract.

The 6ft 6inch defender has been training regularly with the first team, as well as being included in matchday squads, since making the bench for the game at Crewe in October, but has yet to make his debut for the club.

Oakley is coming to the end of his second year as a youth-team scholar and he, along with Louis Thompson and the rest of the club’s second years, is due to find out by the end of April whether or not he will be kept on as a professional.

The level-headed 18-year-old is prepared for both scenarios, but would love nothing more than to become a professional with the team he joined when he was only eight years old.

“With only a couple of months left of the season me and Louis and the other second year scholars are looking to get a contract, and if I keep working hard I hope something will come of it,” he said.

“Even if it doesn’t work out for me I will continue to work hard, but my main aim is to get a pro contract here because I’ve been here since I was eight.

“It would be a bit of a dream to be able to come all the way through like Bedders (Leigh Bedwell) has, but we will just have to wait and see what happens.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and I don’t have a bad word to say about the club, and after I have been here so long I want to be here for a couple more years.

“It would be good for the club too if I could come through from being a youngster all the way to an adult player, and if I do everyone will be happy.”