THE future of loanee Conor Thompson is set to be decided in the next 24 hours with Swindon Supermarine yet to make a decision on whether to attempt to extend the keeper’s temporary deal.

The Torquay youngster is coming to the end of his month-long loan at the Webb’s Wood Stadium with the final game he is eligible for being the Southern League Division One South & West clash with visitors Taunton a week tomorrow.

Having stated his desire to extend the loan soon after he arrived, the former Swindon Town youth stopper appears keen to remain in South Marston but he is just one of a number of options being considered by Marine.

Marine boss Dave Webb said: “Myself and the chairman (Jez Webb) need to sit down and discuss what we’re going to do because there’s a couple of possibilities there that we’re looking into, plus we need to speak to Conor and see what his plans are.

“From our perspective if we have him on loan we need to make sure we have him for another month without any recall option, because we can’t afford to lose someone in that position as it is so specialist.

“If he had to be recalled at a day’s notice to play for Torquay then it would make it difficult for us, because although we have two good young keepers signed on in Kieran Shail and Alex Swatridge, it’s difficult to play week-in, week-out in the Southern League unless you have got some experience.

“Conor’s been a breath of fresh air since he came in. He’s a young keeper that wants to go far in the game and I’m sure he will. He wanted game time and it’s working for both of us at the moment, and if he stays he will get more.

“Ultimately it’s a footballing decision and we have to make sure that the decision we make is for the best of the football club long-term. Myself and Jez will make a call on it in the next couple of days.”

Marine, who have won four on the bounce and scored 15 goals during that time, are scheduled to visit Wimborne tomorrow with suspended skipper Dave Bampton their only absentee.

Webb added: “We’re still talking to a defender but I don’t know how far that’s going to go. We’ve got to have another disccusion with the individual and see if we can sort someting out.”

Elsewhere, Cirencester travel to Taunton tomorrow.