PERSISTENCE has proved to be the key for the Swindon Wildcats as they announced they have secured the services of Edgars Bebris.

The club have drafted in the Latvian-born 26-year-old following his release from Coventry Blaze earlier this month.

During his time at the EIHL side, the forward made a total of 17 outings, scoring one goal in the process.

Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell says he was delighted to acquire the former Sheffield Steeldogs and Manchester Phoenix man, especially after seeing Sam Zajac and Toms Rutkis head for the Link Centre exit.

Nell revealed he tried and failed to lure Bebris to the club on numerous occasions, but is over the moon to finally get his man.

“He is a very good player and he is a player who I have tried to sign maybe three or four times in the last 18 months,” he said.

“We are very happy that he has come to Swindon and he is going to be a big boost for the whole of the club.

“He had left Coventry, so I don’t know how many options he had, but we are very happy to sign him and he is going to help us massively offensively.

“He’s a big body, he is responsible and he is going to be a good player for us. I think we have maybe missed that presence up top and have struggled offensively at times.”

Bebris is the second player to put pen to paper at the Link Centre during the season, with Sam Godfrey making the switch in November.

Nell has also seen three faces drop out from his roster, as Kyle Smith was followed by Zajac and Rutkis.

The Wildcats chief admits the club were at a low point after the double departure, but thinks the arrival of the 26-year-old Bebris will go a long way to revive the positive feeling around the club.

“I think when Sam Zajac left, we knew if the right player became available, we would be able to sign a higher end player and Eddie is that guy,” he added.

“To be honest I don’t know how many options Eddie had. We are very happy that we could get something done very quickly.

“He is a player who is going to help us, improve us and give the rest of the dressing room a bit of a boost.

“It’ll give the whole club boost, the Wildcats got better today and that is a good sign.

“With Sam and Toms leaving it was a bit of a blow, so this will really help and everyone is always excited for after Christmas.”