SWINDON Wildcats head coach Stevie Lyle has said that he is closing in on a new signing after the shock departure of forward Miroslav Zalesak.

The 35-year-old’s departure was announced this morning, with the Slovakian returning home after his family failed to settle in the country.

However, Lyle has moved swiftly in trying to find a replacement for the former NHL player and could be able to announce a new signing as soon as Monday.

The Welshman has been in talks with two players plying their trade in Europe, and one is thought to have agreed personal terms and both parties are waiting for the paperwork to go through.

Lyle was limited in what he could reveal but hopes the new signing will be ‘hungry’ for success.

“I am pretty close to signing one guy who will be on Monday as soon as I get the paper work,” he told the Adver.

“Lucky enough there are one or two players who are not happy on their team and I have been speaking to them already “Right now I have been told there is no point throwing names out there and then it falling through.

“One or two guys I like the look of. They haven’t got the same resumé as Miro, but they are younger and hungrier, so that might work better.”

Lyle announced to the team at Thursday night’s training session that Zalesak had departed the club.

Despite firing a warning shot at some of his underperforming stars after last Saturday’s win over Manchester Phoenix, the Slovakian’s departure is purely down to family reasons.

“We had the conversation and felt that it was right for him to go home,” said Lyle.

“Unfortunately his son came over and didn’t adapt to the schooling so his family went home and I could see he was a bit unhappy.

“It was nothing to do with hockey, it was just a family situation.

“It would have been a long season and it is not fair on the family.

“Obviously he came in and was signed as a top import, so for him to leave after the first month is a bit upsetting, but there is a time where you have to put family first in his career.”