NEW Swindon Town signing Jonathan Smith has admitted there are few League Two clubs that would have persuaded him to leave York City.

Smith completed his £30,000 move to the County Ground after returning from holiday last week and went on to confess that the transfer proved a “tricky decision” for him.

Swindon’s designs on promotion to League One under new boss Paolo Di Canio, however, ultimately proved too attractive to turn down.

“Leaving York was a tricky decision but one I felt I had to make,” Smith told The Press. “I have moved to Swindon as they are a club who are targeting promotion next season.

“There is no chance that I would have left York for a Football League club who are just hanging around in League Two with no ambition. York should be in the Football League and have ambition, which is why I made another difficult decision to leave Forest Green last summer.

“I was only at York for a year but I really enjoyed my time there. The club looked after myself and my family.

“The fans were also very welcoming and I got on with them all so I’d like to thank everybody at the club.

“My aim was to get promoted with York so, in that respect, there’s an element of unfinished business about my departure but I feel the club will go up next season under Gary Mills anyway.”

Smith added he was flattered by former West Ham star Di Canio’s interest in his signature and a little shocked when he heard about the initial approach.

He said: “The interest came as a bit of a surprise as I thought I had a good season but that there was more to come from me. When the chance of a move like this comes, though, you have to take the risk and push yourself that little bit more.

“I have spoken to the new manager a few times. He’s obviously a legend in football and I am looking forward to playing for him.

“It’s hard to turn him down, especially after he told me he wanted me to go there and do exactly what I had been doing for York City.”

The Preston-born 24-year-old also paid a strong tribute to his former boss – 1980 European Cup winner Mills, saying: “He’s a top manager who I got on very well with. I enjoyed his man-management style and his training sessions.”

“He came in and improved me as a player and told me exactly how he wanted me to play. I think I need that and his team talks also inspired me to do well.”

Smith’s exit leaves City with only Scott Kerr and Andre Boucaud from last season’s central midfield contingent but the one-time Morecambe man believes both players can help bring success to Bootham Crescent next season.

He said: “I rate Scott Kerr as one of the best players I have ever played with.

“I’ve already told him that he helped get me this move because I really pushed on playing alongside him during the last few months of the season.

“He talked to me all the time – on and off the pitch – and always had advice to help me with my game.

“With Boucs, there’s more to come from him because everybody knows how much ability he’s got.

“He possesses more quality and skill than I will ever have.

“He’s got everything and I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s made me look silly in training. He can run a game on his own and I’m sure that will come out now he’s settled in York.

“I don’t think people realise how hard it is sometimes to move clubs when you have been somewhere else a long time.

“I found it difficult coming from Forest Green at first and he had been with Kettering for a long time too.”