STRIKER Jermaine Hylton has said the chance to play in the SkyBet Football League could not be turned down.

The forward left Redditch United last week after signing a two and a half year deal at Swindon Town.

Hylton, who had bagged 14 goals for the Reds in the Southern League Premier, had been one of non-league football's hottest properties and attracted interest from Birmingham City, MK Dons, Shrewsbury and Fleetwood.

The club and Hylton's adviser Paul West had been in talks with a host of clubs before Swindon swooped to secure the forward's future.

He said: "I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone at Redditch United, to Liam and the management, the team, the supporters, Chris and Sallie Swan and my adviser Paul West.

"They have been a big part of me being able to achieve my dreams of becoming a professional footballer.

"There was lots of speculation with regards to my future and if I'm being honest it got to a stage where you are not too sure what is true and not true. I'm kind of glad I've made my decision as I can now focus on the next chapter in my career.

"I am very fortunate to have a good family and people around me and in the end I made the decision I felt was the best for me and my football career.

"The time I have spent at Redditch United have been some of the best times of my career to date and the club will always be important to me and the friendships I have made there throughout the club will stay with me.

"In an ideal world I would of loved to have stayed until the end of the season and finished the job which I started in achieving promotion with Redditch but the lure of joining Mark Cooper's Swindon Town in Division One was too great an opportunity to turn down."