STRIKING prospect Jeff Goulding predicted a possible title tilt for Cherries next season – and then reaffirmed his desire to play a role in the team’s promising future.

The 24-year-old frontman is keen to pen a new deal after producing a good performance in Cherries’ impressive season finale at Morecambe.

Goulding signed a year-long deal when he was plucked from non-league Fisher Athletic by Kevin Bond last August.

And having helped Cherries retain their Football League status, the Londoner is desperate to pledge his future to the Dorset club.

“My current deal is up but I’m hoping to get a new contract,” said Goulding, who netted three goals in 27 League Two appearances this term.

“I’ve really enjoyed it here. I’d love to come back and hopefully I’ll speak to Eddie (Howe, manager) about that in the next week and sort something out.”

Goulding was briefly loaned out to Eastbourne in November, but he soon returned to Dean Court and played his part in what turned out to be a successful fight for survival.

With good things possibly just on the horizon under the guidance of young boss Eddie Howe, Goulding wants to stay on the south coast.

“If we can keep the team together I think we’ve got a great chance of being there or thereabouts next season – not just in the play-offs, but actually winning the title,” he told the Echo.

“If you look at our form in the past few months, it’s been exceptional.

“We’ve had the odd blip but we’ve got a cracking set of lads and the gaffer and Jason (Tindall, assistant manager) are brilliant with everyone. Long may it continue.”

The powerful forward found himself behind top scorer Brett Pitman and veteran targetman Steve Fletcher in the Cherries pecking order as the season wore on.

But with 36-year-old Fletcher unlikely to be able to play every match, Goulding could provide boss Howe with a different option when the new campaign gets under way in August.