THERE is no place like home for Aaron Nell after the Swindon Wildcats ace put pen to paper on a new contract for next season at the Link Centre.

Nell – the son of Cats general manager Steve Nell – came through the youth ranks at the club and is now one of the most influential figures in the first-team squad.

His decision to remain with the Cats means Nell has shelved any ambition to play in the Elite League again.

The 25-year-old spent more than two years with Coventry Blaze early in his career and was most recently in England’s top division with Sheffield Steelers in 2013-14.

But Nell now believes Cats is the perfect place for him to be.

“It was quite easy, there were no negotiations, I’m in,” said Nell.

“I’m past that now (the Elite League). I tried the Sheffield thing and in the end it worked out well for me personally, maybe not professionally, but personally it was great for me.

“There’s not much chance (of playing there again) unless you go to one of the top teams where you get treated as well as you do down here.

“You can only go to four or five teams but those four or five teams have really good imports and it’s tough to get in the team.

“I’d have liked for it to work out better but I think it’s for the best that it didn’t quite work last time.

“Here it’s not just hockey, it’s my dad’s business and I help him with stuff in the office and I’m here for good now.

“There’s always stuff going on. It’s tough but it’s very, very positive. Swindon is buzzing right now and it’s getting better and better every year.”

Nell becomes the first signing for new Swindon head coach Stevie Lyle, with the Cats netminder taking over from Ryan Aldridge at the end of the season.

Forward Nell was quick to praise the work done by Aldridge and believes Swindon will continue to go from strength to strength in the new regime.

“Ryan has really grown the club in his six and a half years and the difference from when he came to now is night and day.

“We attract players now, whereas we used to have to beg players to come,” added Nell.

“Stevie’s got some exciting plans and I think we’ll have a great team next year.

“Swindon is a great place to play now, we’ve got a nice rink and a full rink every week. I think everyone wants to be here next season.”