SWINDON Wildcats head coach Ryan Aldridge has said that the future of the club is in safe hands after it was announced that Stevie Lyle will be replacing him as the Link Centre boss for next season.

Aldridge has decided to step down from his role at the end of the season after six years in the job.

The 36-year-old will now move onto a different challenge in the shape of a head coaching role with Swindon-based Okanagan Academy.

“It’s my decision, I’m going to leave and go and work for Okanagan,” he told the Swindon Advertiser.

“I was offered it last year by Andy Oaks (president of Okanagan Hockey Academy) and it was a decision I didn’t make then, I had to think about it for a while.

“This year I have just moved and moved in with my girlfriend and it is the time it takes up in the evenings.

“I have played and coached at this level for so long, you are out of the house every evening basically, so that is one of the reasons.

“They are a company I want to work for and there is an opportunity to move on at a later time, so lots of different reasons have brought it on.

“I’m looking forward of the challenge of working with the boys, not only on a day-to-day basis but also through an important part of their lives.”

Former Great Britain net-minder Lyle will take the reins from the end of the season and despite speculation surrounding his retirement he has said that he will carry on in goal for the Wildcats alongside his coaching.

It is unsure at this stage whether Pete Russell, who was earlier this year announced as the head coach for Great Britain, will continue in his role with Okanagan alongside Aldridge or whether his role will change.

Aldridge is confident, though, that 35-year-old Lyle will be the right person to take Swindon to the next level.

“Last year I probably wouldn’t have gone until I knew who was replacing me, it had to be the right person,” added Aldridge.

“We haven’t worked so hard over the years for me to just give it up to somebody I wouldn’t trust or know.

“To know that Stevie has accepted it made my decision a lot easier.

“He has got a wealth of experience and I am sure there will be an abundance of players who will want to play for him, he has played with so many people over the years.

“The way we have built it up and where we are now financially and as a club as a whole we have improved every year and I think Stevie will help continue that.”