Ritchie here for the long run (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Ritchie here for the long run

6:00am Friday 30th March 2012 in STFC News By Gary Rose

WINGER Matt Ritchie has put to bed speculation over his long-term future by insisting he intends to be at Swindon next season.

The npower League Two Player of the Year has played a key role in helping the Robins to the top of the division, putting them firmly on course for immediate promotion following relegation in the last campaign.

Ritchie was the focus of intense transfer speculation in both transfer windows this season, with League One Bournemouth having made several unsuccessful bids.

After the final failed effort from the Cherries at the end of January, Ritchie wanted to leave any thoughts over his future until the summer.

But he has now given his strongest indication yet that he plans to be a Swindon player come August.

Ritchie told the Advertiser: “I always said in January I would assess where we are in the league and what is going on at the club, and the club is a brilliant place to be at the moment.

“We are going to get promoted and the only way I would maybe have wanted to leave was if we were struggling in League Two.

“I am enjoying my football here, I am enjoying working with the gaffer and I am enjoying working with all the players.

“We have a strong squad and we are looking positive for next year.

“If we do what we want to do this year and go up then I believe we have a strong chance of doing what the likes of Norwich and Southampton have done.”

Should Town go on to secure promotion as expected, then Paolo Di Canio will undoubtedly be determined to keep hold of his best players from this season and build his team around them.

While the squad as a whole has played its part in getting Swindon to where they are today, the likes of Alan McCormack, Paul Caddis, Simon Ferry and Wes Foderingham have particularly stood out from the pack.

And Ritchie is confident that others in the dressing room share his view that there is no better place to be than Swindon.

“I haven’t really spoken to the other lads about it, we are just concentrating on this season, but I think everyone is enjoying being top of the league and winning games most weeks,” continued Ritchie.

“It is a good place to be, there is a good atmosphere here so I believe everyone is enjoying it.”