STEVIE Lyle is the biggest signing in the history of the Swindon Wildcats, according to player-coach Aaron Nell after the veteran netminder penned a three-year deal at the Link Centre this afternoon.

Lyle, who announced he was hanging up his gloves just two years ago, is enjoying a prolonged career Indian summer and has been rewarded with the long-term contract.

The 36-year-old, who joined Swindon from Basingstoke Bison three years ago, started this campaign as the club’s player-coach but stepped down from the role back in October, with Nell taking over the duties.

With Nell and import forward Jonas Höög committing their short-term futures to the club last week, Swindon are keen to have the core of their team for next season sorted early and Lyle is the player that it will all hinge around according to Nell.

“We’re absolutely ecstatic that we have signed Stevie Lyle,” he said.

“He is the most valuable player in this league and he has carried us for three years now and he is a great, great goalie and we are delighted that we have signed him.

“I think it is the biggest signing ever for our club. When we signed Stevie that was massive, but to be able to get him for three more years and how it is with the import goalies we are delighted.

“We have been talking and to be able to have that security, for him and for us, it’s great and I am sure a lot of people didn’t think we’d be able to get him.

“He is our franchise player and the player we build our club around and for him to be here for another three years, we are very happy.”

While Lyle has proved a safe pair of hands between the pipes in his three years at the club it is his attitude away from the rink that Nell hopes to channel into the rest of his team as he begins his first recruitment drive as player-coach.

“He has obviously got a god-given talent but he comes to play every night,” he added.

“He comes, he has got a smile on his face in practice and you know what you are going to get from Stevie and that is the most important thing.

“That is something we are trying to build here, we want to know what we are going to get from people.

“Since Stevie has come back, he has shown great character and has been unbelievable.”