NICK Watkins believes Billy Paynter made his mind up to exit for Leeds ‘a long time ago’ after the striker agreed to sign for the Elland Road side.

The 26-year-old, who is out of contract at Town this summer, will link up with his new teammates on July 1 as he begins a three-year contract in West Yorkshire.

The Town hierarchy had offered Paynter improved terms to stay at the County Ground but the pull of a move to the Championship outfit proved too great for the front man.

And chief executive Watkins told the Advertiser: “I’m aware that the club (Swindon) made Billy a contract offer for both the Championship and League One.

“For Swindon it was a very attractive and sensible deal, but then you have a big club like Leeds, with 30,000-plus fans in the ground every fixture, and the fact that Billy would be able to move back up north, I’m sure all that came into it.

“I think he decided to go to Leeds a long time ago.”

Paynter enjoyed his best-ever goal-scoring season in 2009/10 as he found the net 29 times, and Watkins admitted Town would sorely miss the services of the hitman.

“You can’t take away from him what he’s achieved at Swindon,” said Watkins.

“He’s been part of a goalscoring duo that last season got us out of relegation and this season got us into the play-off final.

“We are bitterly disappointed to lose him but we can only wish him well.

“This could be the pinnacle of Billy Paynter’s career and he took the interests of himself and his family into account in making his decision.”

Meanwhile, Danny Ward’s loan period at Town has finished and the youngster has returned to parent club Bolton.