Teenage striker Charlie Ide believes he can get the goals to fire Brentford back into League One at the first attempt.

Brentford are putting faith in their young guns, handing 19-year-old Ide a new two-year contract with a further option, while 18-year-olds Ross Montague and Lewis Dark have been given one-year deals.

Sunbury-based Ide scored seven goals in 24 league starts, even though the Bees crashed to relegation, but believes fans are still to see the best of him.

"Last season, I aimed to get at least 10 goals - this time, 15 might be a realistic target.

"Ideally, I want to get more than that. I scored 20 for the youth team two seasons ago, so I know it's possible."

Ide is leading the way for Brentford youngsters who have progressed from the club's successful academy into the first team. He joined them on schoolboy forms at the age of 10 and signed YTS forms six years later.

He was given his break into senior football by Leroy Rosenior after bagging six goals in six games during a loan spell at Conference South club Sutton United.

He played so well on his full debut, a Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Nottingham Forest, that he kept his place for the league fixture on the same ground the following Saturday.

Although Rosenior and his successor Scott Fitzgerald used Ide out wide, rather than in his preferred central role, the 5ft 9in Ide struck up a good understanding with main striker Jo Kuffour.

With Brentford's top scorer being linked with a move to Bournemouth or Huddersfield, boss Terry Butcher is likely to sign an experienced striker to complement Ide's skills.

"Although I get more time and space on the right wing, I love playing up front as I can get in the penalty box more often and get more scoring chances," he said.

"I learned a lot under Scott Fitzgerald in the youth team and first team, and now I can develop further under Terry Butcher.

"I am really looking forward to playing under him."

This week's news that Montague and Dark have landed their first professional deals follows their blooding in the first team by head of youth Barry Quin, when he took caretaker charge of the club for the final four games of the season.

Striker Montague was handed his debut as a second-half substitute against Forest at Griffin Park on April 14, while right-back or midfielder Lewis made his full debut at Doncaster Rovers a week later.

Quin said: "It is superb news for the two lads, their families and for the Centre Of Excellence.

"Lewis joined us later on, when he was 16, while Ross has come up from the Junior Bees right through the ranks.

"I wasn't scared to put them in the first team and it meant that Terry saw them in action.

"It brought the youth set-up to the forefront and gave the lads a big opportunity.

"But they didn't show everything they had to offer in their limited appearances last season - there is a lot more to come from both players, that's for sure."

l Butcher, who has lived in Scotland for 17 of the past 21 years, says he is about to buy a house close to Griffin Park.