City set to sign Swindon Town defender

YORK City are set to sign Swindon Town defender Jeff King.

Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke is reporting that the 28-year-old will drop down from Sky Bet League Two to link up with Adam Hinshelwood’s table-toppers.

However, it is not known whether he will arrive in North Yorkshire on a permanent or loan deal.

The Minstermen maintained their standing at the top of the Vanarama National League table with a 5-3 victory against rivals Hartlepool in front of over 7,500 supporters on Saturday, but it is this weekend’s mouth-watering trip to second-placed Forest Green Rovers that is sure to provide a true indication of their promotion credentials.

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King is someone who knows just what it takes to help City return to the Football League for the first time since 2016.

He featured 19 times as Chesterfield cruised to the National League title last term, including in the Minstermen’s shock 2-1 win at the LNER Community Stadium in March, before joining Swindon on a free transfer in August after a successful trial.

In total, the right-back made over a century of appearances for the Spireites across three seasons, scoring 13 goals, and earned a place in the 2022-23 National League Team of the Year.

King also has National League experience with Halifax Town, for whom he earned a Player of the Season and Team of the Year double in 2020-21.

King won promotion to League Two with Chesterfield last season. (Image: PA) The set-piece specialist, who has made 11 appearances for Swindon so far this season, was initially a consistent starter under Mark Kennedy until taking a period of absence due to a family bereavement.

He has featured just once for the Robins since, starting their 1-1 draw at Tranmere on October 1.

Despite uncharacteristically conceding three against Hartlepool, City have the tightest defence in the National League with just 12 goals conceded across their opening 17 league fixtures, keeping nine clean sheets in that time.

King would add more depth to Hinshelwood’s back line, with Thierry Latty-Fairweather told he was not a part of the club’s plans, and returning to Maidenhead on loan until January.

The move could also offer more flexibility for full-back Joe Felix, one of the club's standout performers since his summer move from Worthing, to play on the left side of defence if needed.