Alan Bennett's stay at Cheltenham Town 'depends on ambition'

Captain Alan Bennett says his future at Cheltenham Town depends on the ambition of the club next season.

The Robins missed out on a place in League One after losing to Crewe in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.

The 30-year-old, who signed a one-year deal last year with the option of a second, told BBC Points West: "We'll see what happens in the off-season.

"It will determine my future when I see what kind of group we get together - I don't want to go backwards."

Bennett joined Cheltenham following his release from Wycombe last summer.

He was ever-present in the heart of the Robins' defence in the league this season, and struck up a solid partnership with Steve Elliott.

Cheltenham were on course for automatic promotion to League One but a run of seven games without a win in March meant they finished sixth in the table.

After falling at the final hurdle against Crewe, Bennett says anything less than a top-three finish next year will not be good enough.

"This is the minimum requirement of the squad, I think," he continued.

"We'll see what happens and see if they can put together a group that can go up automatically rather than through this situation again.

"It's the most devastated I've been after the game. Usually you have another game to get it out of your system but this one will linger."

And although his current deal will see him contracted at Whaddon Road until 2013, he admits: "I have a year left but at this level it doesn't really mean much.

"Players come and go and we'll just see what group the manager and chairman get together because the finances are there, as such.

"I hope they do a good job like they did last summer."