NICKY Ajose says head coach Luke Williams deserves plenty of credit for his red-hot season up front for Swindon Town.

Last term, Ajose became the first Town striker to hit 25 goals in a campaign since Billy Paynter netted 29 times during 2009-10.

The 24-year-old returned to the County Ground on a free transfer last September following the termination of his contract at Championship side Leeds United, having previously spent a four-month loan spell at Town during the 2013-14 season while a Peterborough United player.

Ajose proved an unstoppable force back in Wiltshire and finished joint-top of the scoring charts in League One and was voted as the Swindon Advertiser player of the year by the club’s supporters.

That is sure to earn him several admiring glances from clubs elsewhere and although Ajose remains under contact at Town until 2018, it is likely to be tough for the club to keep hold of him should a sizeable offer come in.

Having worked with Williams during his previous role as first-team coach at Town under former manager Mark Cooper, Ajose has credited the current Swindon boss for helping make him the player he is today.

Speaking to BBC Wiltshire recently, Ajose said: “Sometimes, player and club is a good fit.

“The staff here, previously Mark Cooper, but now with Luke and Ross (Embleton, first-team coach); Luke has been paramount to my development as a football player in the last two years, even though I have not been here.

“From what I learned the first time, I took on in my experience when I went to Peterborough and Leeds and when I came back, it’s like I have never been away.

“He teaches me new things, he helps me with the mental side of the game and fills me with a lot of confidence, and I owe a lot to Luke for the time and effort he has put in with me when I have been at Swindon.”