NEW Swindon Wildcats head coach Stevie Lyle is planning for a busy summer as he begins looks forward to taking the reins next season.

Lyle may not be taking over the head coaching role from Ryan Aldridge until the end of this campaign but he is already thinking ahead, though he admits he will have some tough decisions to make during the off-season.

Speaking to the Advertiser for the first time since the announcement was made yesterday lunch-time, Lyle said he hopes to use the contacts that he has built up from over 20 years in the sport.

However the veteran net-minder does not think it is fair to the current squad to think about recruitment until the summer.

“I have had a lot of texts saying congratulations and I am hoping that I might attract a couple of players I have played with over the years to the club,” said Lyle who will be hoping to take advantage to the rule changes in the Elite League to add strength to his side.

“I’d like to think wherever I have played I have been lucky enough to have the guys like, and want, to play in front of me every night.

“The hardest part of the job is – which I will have to get used to pretty quickly – is if there are one or two guys getting released – whether British or import guys. Because I have been mates with them, if they are not in my plans, it is going to be tough.”

Lyle was considering hanging up his gloves at the end of this term with his contract coming to end but is now expected to play on as a player/coach.

The Welshman will now begin his search for an assistant to help run things from the sidelines during the games but does not see any issues with the dual role.

“I haven’t spoken to people about it yet but I will have someone on the bench,” he added.

“If you are prepared and you have signed a good bunch of guys that are willing to buy into your system, how you want to run things, you don’t need to coach them much on the ice.

The former Great Britain international is also hoping that his appointment will provide the spark needed for Swindon to have an end-of-season charge, giving Aldridge the send off he deserves and some silverware.

“The work that Ryan and Steve have done over the years to get the club to where it is right now has been great,” he added.

“This year I want to play my year out and if we can win a play-off for Ryan it will be a great send off.

“I just want to keep on improving, whether it is four or six points every year then we will eventually be pushing for that first spot.

“I would like to think the players might start playing a bit harder now because they know they are not playing for Ryan, Stevie is going to be a different coach, and it might make us have a good end to the season.”