Cheltenham Town offer new deal to Wes Thomas

Thomas is set to become a father in April

Cheltenham Town have confirmed they have offered a new contract to top scorer Wes Thomas.

The 12-goal striker, who turns 24 this month, is out of contract this summer and could leave on a free transfer.

Robins chairman Paul Baker told BBC Gloucestershire: "We want to keep our best players and his goals have been critical in the success of the club.

"The ideal for me would be for him to sign a new contract keeping him at the club for at least another season."

Thomas, signed last summer from Dagenham and Redbridge, is still based in London, and his girlfriend is pregnant.

"It may well be that Wes is quite keen to return to his roots and find a club nearer to his home, so that may be one of the stumbling blocks at the moment that we cannot do much about," Baker said.

Thomas' agent has been in discussions with Cheltenham manager Mark Yates about a new deal, and Baker says the club will do all they can to persuade him to stay.

"He has been a fantastic signing by Mark, he enjoys it here and it's a while since we have had a strike pairing like Wes and Jeff Goulding that has been so effective," he added.