SWINDON Supermarine have signed Torquay goalkeeper Conor Thompson on a month's loan.

The signing of the 18-year-old follows the shock exit of stopper Kent Kauppinen from the Webb's Wood Stadium.

Thompson left Swindon Town early into a two-year scholarship programme and had spells at Gloucester City and Chippenham before moving to Torquay in October last year on a free.

He has yet to play a competitive game for the Gulls but has made an impression on the international stage in representing Northern Ireland Under-17s.

The circumstances surrounding Kauppinen's departure are unclear but he tweeted this evening: "Really enjoyed my time at @SupermarineFC all the best to you guys."

Kauppinen originally joined Marine in August 2011 and was there until March of the following year when he was jailed for assault, but re-signed at the Webb's Wood upon his release.

The 22-year-old played every match of the 2012/13 campaign - in which Supermarine made the Southern League Division One South & West play-off semi-finals - and was named manager's player of the season.

He had been a regular in the starting line-up during the first half of this term.