FORMER Swindon Town winger Joel Grant has signed an initial one-year deal with National League side Grimsby Town.

The 33-year-old was released by Swindon at the end of last season after making just 21 appearances and scoring two goals, with a series of injuries preventing him from helping his previous club try to escape the drop.

Grant now joins another previously-relegated team in Grimsby, who lost their Football League status at the end of the last campaign.

Now attempting to climb back up to League Two at the first time of asking under manager Paul Hurst, Grant told his new club's website how excited he is for the challenge ahead.

He said: "I wouldn't say that the manager had to sell the club to me. Just his enthusiasm and the buzz that he has about where he wants this club to go definitely made it a lot more convincing. He is a good manager and I know he has big plans for the club.

"I am a player who likes to entertain, but more importantly I want to bring some goals and assists. I am a forward player, but the game has changed and if you had asked me about five years ago I would have said I am an out and out winger.

"But I feel I have adapted my game quite well, and especially in the modern game there are so many formations.

"I'm a forward player who likes to attack, create chances and I always like to score goals."

Discussing his new signing, Grimsby manager Hurst revealed he had tried to sign Grant before.

Hurst said: "I have known about Joel for a long time. I once spoke to him about trying to bring him to Grimsby years ago, now obviously that didn't come off but I'm delighted that he's here now.

"He is a player who is technically very good, very comfortable on the ball and as you can see throughout his career, he can score goals and that is something that we are trying to add to the squad."