CHIPPENHAM Town chairman Neil Blackmore insists there is no point wondering ‘what might have been’ following Tyrone Mings’ multi-million pound move to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old left-back, pictured right, who grew up in the town, sealed a switch to AFC Bournemouth from Ipswich Town for a fee worth up to £8 million last week, capping a meteoric rise from his non-league days with the Bluebirds.

Chippenham didn’t receive any windfall from Mings’ transfer to the Cherries but despite having their former charge signed on non-contract terms in late 2012 ,when the defender was snapped up by Ipswich, the Bluebirds still received £10,000 from Mick McCarthy’s Tractor Boys and a pre-season friendly the following summer.

Blackmore, who is instead keen to focus on a local lad’s sensational rise to the top-flight, thinks his club have more than benefitted enough.

“I don’t think that there’s any point in worrying about what might have been at all,” said Blackmore, when asked about the lack of a sell-on fee in Mings' transfer to Ipswich.

“We didn’t have Tyrone on a contract at the time but (then-manager) Nathan Rudge did a great job of speaking to Mick McCarthy and getting us £10,000 and a pre-season friendly, which we’re very grateful for.

“I think it’s more important to concentrate on what a fantastic move it is for Tyrone and he really deserves it because he’s a really nice, genuine guy. I don’t want to be unfair to Premier League footballers but he’s not like what you’d consider a ‘typical’ one.

“It’s great for Chippenham Town in that it’s getting our name out there and it’s also putting Chippenham on the map.”

The Bluebirds are preparing for the upcoming Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division campaign and Blackmore is pleased with the progress being made both on and off the pitch.

He added: “We had our best finish for a few years last season and things are growing off the pitch too.

“We want to bring in a full-time commercial manager to help get our name out there and get us more sponsorship, and I’ve had 12 applications for that role.

“Things haven’t stopped over the summer because we’ve been doing maintenance work on the ground and on the pitch and Mark (Collier) is putting together a good squad.”