King leaves Town by mutual consent to join National League outfit

Swindon Town defender Jeff King has made a permanent switch to National League outfit York City following his release from The Nigel Eady County Ground.

King arrived at Swindon in the summer having departed Chesterfield following their promotion to League Two last season and was a stalwart in the side in the early weeks of the season.

However, after just four months in Wiltshire, King and Town have agreed upon a mutual termination of his contract to allow him to join York.

The 28-year-old started every league game until Port Vale, but a personal tragedy meant that he spent time away from the team and playing against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s last week was his first appearance since the start of October.

The wing-back heads back up North to join up with the early pace setters in the National League under Adam Hinshelwood and will play alongside Ricky Aguiar, who joined The Minstermen in the summer from Town.

King has a very strong record in the fifth tier, having been part of Paul Cook’s Chesterfield team who earned promotion last season, he has been named in the National League Team of the Season on two occasions, once with The Spireites and previously with Halifax Town.

Following his departure from the SMH Group Stadium, King came on trial at Swindon this summer, playing in the final pre-season friendly against Wycombe Wanderers and doing enough to earn a contract with the club.

Since King’s time out of the team to be with his family, Joel McGregor and Tunmise Sobowale have both stepped up and created a headache for Ian Holloway on the right flank, clearly giving him the depth he feels sufficient to allow King to gain regular playing time at York.

Speaking to club media, King said: "I am really happy, when I found out that York were interested in me, it just felt perfect to get something sorted.

"I was with Swindon and I played the first seven or eight games but with York doing so well, I don't think they wanted to stand still with what they are doing.

"They want to get out of this division and with myself they have probably added a little bit of experience and hopefully quality to the squad.

"Hopefully I can help the team to achieve the goal that we all want, having had a promotion out of this division last year, I feel that I know what it takes."