ADAM Harding says that he’s hoping to be a Swindon Wildcat for ‘many years to come’ after signing on at the Link Centre for next season.

On Saturday, the Wildcats announced that the 22-year-old had agreed a contract with the club for the 2015-16 campaign and that the Welshman won’t be on another two-way deal with the Cardiff Devils, although he is still hoping to train with the Elite League outfit.

Harding, who played for Swindon Leopards and Swindon Cougars as a youngster, has spent the last two seasons with the Wildcats and says that committing to a third under new head coach Stevie Lyle was a no-brainer.

“When it was announced that Stevie was going to be the coach, I spoke to him about this season then,” said the former Great Britain U20 centre.

“Swindon is the nearest EPL team to home for me. I’ve had two years here already and I’ve really liked playing at the Link Centre because the fans are great.

“I’ve got a lot of ice time there and I think that I improved throughout the season working with Ryan Aldridge. I like playing there and hopefully I’m at Swindon for many years to come.

“I’ve not spoken to the Devils but I won’t be signing on a two-way. I’d still like to practice with them.

“It’s important to get as much ice time as you can and it helps to be able to go and get that in Cardiff when you’ve got days off.

“It really helps training with Andrew Lord (the Devils’ Canadian player-coach) too because he’s a fantastic coach – even last season, I was learning things that I never thought of before.”

Harding also says that he’s buoyed by the prospect of linking up with Wildcats captain Jan Kostal once more and is hoping to build on the flourishing relationship the two struck up after he rose through the ranks last term.

The Swindon man, who plundered 14 goals and 28 assists in 48 appearances for Swindon last season, said: “I started on the third line last year and then made it up to the second line alongside Jan.

“It’s great to play alongside someone as good as him. As a centreman, sometimes you’re behind the other team’s net but he will always cover for you.

“He’s a great player and I think being alongside him really improved my game last season. The two of us have good chemistry and I think he’s a big part of why I was putting the puck away more.”