NATHAN Thompson admits leaving Swindon Town was one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to make.

The 26-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year contract at Portsmouth on Thursday, bringing an end to his 14 year association with the club.

The former skipper, who won back-to-back Swindon Advertiser player of the year awards in 2012-13 and 2013-14, admits that he will look back on his final year at the club with regret following the relegation to League Two.

“It was tough, this club means an awful lot to me, I have been here a long, long time and as well as a player I was a fan,” Thompson told the Advertiser.

“I have got a lot of friends here, the backroom staff, the chairman, the physio – I’m close with – so it was a tough one to take.

“It was difficult with the way that it finished at Swindon, I will always regret that, I’ll regret being the captain of the team that was relegated.”

Having agonised over the decision to call time on his boyhood club, Thompson is grateful for the fans and how they took to him during his career at Swindon.

While, the focus is now on trying to help Portsmouth reach the Championship, the defender is hoping that new Town manager David Flitcroft can lead the County Ground outfit back to League One.

“I want to wish the fans all the best and know that the manager is looking to construct a team that will be extremely competitive this season,” the former skipper said.

“I just hope they are able to get back to where they belong.

“I’m extremely thankful for all the support and the messages, it epitomises the crowd that we have got here. Even now I have left they are wishing me the best of luck, I’m very thankful.

“I think I needed this new challenge. It took a while to come to that decision, this club means a hell of a lot to me so it was very difficult to accept that I may have needed to move and see a new challenge.

“When a club like Portsmouth comes knocking on your door it is an attractive opportunity.

“I think every player wants to play as high as they can as long as they can, it is a very short career.

“I felt by moving to Portsmouth there was that opportunity to step up into the Championship in the not too distant future.”