SWINDON Wildcats have pulled off a major coup by persuading star forward Jonas Hoog to stay at the club for next season.

The Swede finished top of the English Premier League points scoring charts last season with 42 goals and 50 assists, and was a central figure as the Link Centre side finished the regular season in a rich vein of form.

Hoog’s impressive performances in red and white saw a host of clubs across Europe declare their interest, and despite the fact he was made to wait to find out if he had got his man, Cats head coach Ryan Aldridge was delighted to be able to keep him at the club.

“He did the same to us last year, and he likes to go away and not really think about hockey for the first couple of months, and we had to respect that,” he said.

“Jonas is someone we know, and that is very important because we know exactly what we will get with him.

“He told me before he left that he would never play for another club in this country, and we are close enough friends that I believed him, which was the right thing to do.”

“The fans and the other players all love him and he is a popular guy to have around, and he has shown that he is one of the best players in the league.

“Hopefully he and Aaron Nell will pick up where they left off last season because they were phenomenal for us and were very important to our strong finish to the season.

“Jonas can be both goalscorer or playmaker and he is happy to do either job for the sake of the team and that is important.”

Hoog himself was happy to sign again for Swindon, and is already looking forward to the new season.

"I am happy to be back in Swindon next year. It’s nice to be home but I can't wait to get back to playing again now,” he said.

“The team is looking good and with other players I hear are close to signing, I am excited to see what this season may bring."

The Swede is the 12th member of last season’s squad to agree to return to the Wildcats, and although coach Aldridge is pleased with the way his side is shaping up, he still has his eye on further additions.

“I am very pleased with how the team is shaping up for next season, and we have most of our team in place now,” he said.

“We have a couple very close to finalising things now, and then that just leaves us with two forwards to sign.

“There are a few names in the frame, but now Jonas has signed here that makes it a lot easier for us to decide who to go for.”