ANTHONY Grant has been crowned Swindon Town’s Adver player of the year for 2019/20.

The midfielder polled 50 per cent of the 6,700 votes cast by readers in an online vote at the end of the League Two championship-winning season, edging top scorer Eoin Doyle (43 per cent) into second place.

Grant’s name joins an illustrious list on the Adver trophy, which was first presented to Ken McPherson in 1964. The roll call includes legends such as Don Rogers, John Trollope, Mike Summerbee and Shaun Taylor.

The 33-year-old has forged a special relationship with the Town faithful since arriving in Wiltshire from Shrewsbury Town last year.

His dominant displays saw Grant showered with praise in our comments, with fans describing him as “an absolute rock” and “simply the best player on the pitch in so many games”.

On hearing the news, Grant said: “I don’t know what to say apart from thanks to everybody who voted for the award, it is much appreciated.

“It always matters that the fans care what you do and they take to you. It helps you perform better and helps you express yourself.”

On football’s recent behind-closed-doors return, he added: “Football isn’t the same without the fans, they are everything that players want and we need them back.”

The announcement was made last night at a virtual presentation ceremony staged via Zoom on the supporters’ club’s Facebook page.

Grant also carried off the SAS Travel Club’s player of the season honour. Doyle was the choice of the Official Supporters’ Club and Disabled Supporters’ Club as the duo shared the silverware with two accolades apiece.

Both of Town’s star men have been offered new contracts by manager Richie Wellens and were quizzed by host Vic Morgan and the fans on their respective futures.

Grant said: “We’re in talks and hopefully it’ll get resolved. It’s nothing major and we are enjoying the downtime right now.

“We want to relax as a team and don’t want to rush anything.

“Everyone knows I want to be at Swindon next season, I’ve said that since day dot.”

Doyle is also out of contract this summer, having signed from Bradford City in January.

He said: “Similar to Anthony, I’ve had conversations with the club but I think it’s unfair for anybody to commit to anything at the moment because nobody knows what will happen.

“The club has gone four or five months with no income, there’s no date for the start of next season and there is rumours of salary caps. Once all that gets sorted there will be a stronger conversation to be had between myself and the club.

“The security of the club is more important than Eoin Doyle at the minute.”