SWINDON Wildcats have secured the services of Floyd Taylor for an additional season, to the delight of player-coach Aaron Nell.

The 24-year-old, who made his Wildcats debut in 2011, iced 40 times in NIHL South One for the Cats last season – registering 12 goals and four assists for 16 points.

Taylor is the eighth player that Nell has successfully tied down to a contract this summer - following in the footsteps of Sam Bullas, Stevie Whitfield, Tomasz Malasinski, Chris Jones, Tyler Plews, Neil Liddiard and Sam Godfrey.

And the Wildcats’ player-coach insists Taylor’s reliability and improvement in recent seasons has warranted his extension at the Link Centre.

He said: “Floyd (Taylor) has really improved over the last two or three years and he’s someone that we really like to have in Swindon.

“He’s turning into a leader on our team and we’re very happy to have him.

“He’s a great person to have in the dressing room and he’s really starting to get some more confidence.

“He can hold people accountable and he’s become much more of a leader.

“He learned a lot from Phil Hill when he was here and he (Taylor) is going to be a big part of our team.

“He’s been massive for us, especially over the past two years, and this year, he’s going to be pushed towards being an even bigger part of our team.”

Wildcats will face tougher competition next season after National League clubs agreed a new NIHL structure for the 2019-20 season.

Nell’s troops will tackle nine other teams in the 10-team National League, which includes Hull Pirates, Leeds, MK Lightning, Sheffield Steeldogs and Telford Tigers.

An increase in quality of opposition means Cats’ players must up their game ahead of the start of their fresh campaign.

And Nell is confident Taylor has the ability to do just that.

He added: “I think the biggest thing we’ll notice next year is the consistency.

“I don’t see any team getting way better than they were last season – maybe apart from Milton Keynes.

“They might be much better than the Milton Keynes of last season.

“But it will be remaining consistent that will be important and in Floyd, that’s a big part of his game that he’s improved on.

“We need him to continue to improve on that, as does the whole team.

“That will be key, and hopefully, with the depth that we do have, that can help us be consistent and win as many games as possible.

“The new division will certainly be a challenge, but one we are excited for.”