Tommy Mooney has expressed a genuine desire to see Town succeed next season and fans can take some comfort from the fact that he won't be returning to the County Ground in a Bristol City shirt.

The 32-year-old striker is looking for a fresh challenge after drawing a line under his Town career, but the Evening Advertiser understands he will not be leaving one set of Robins to join another nest down the M4 at Ashton Gate.

There is a chance, however, that Mooney could still come face to face with his former colleagues in the forthcoming campaign.

Speaking for the first time since his departure was announced, he said: "It has been pretty amicable, but it's now a question of looking for the next challenge.

"It's disappointing that I was only at Swindon for one season, as I thought I would be there for a good few years.

"I made a lot of good friends very quickly at the club and I genuinely wish the club well for the new season.''

The protracted 'will he, won't he' saga of Mooney's future was finally resolved on Monday, with the departure many had felt was inevitable following the failure to agree the terms of a new deal.

The striker, who scored 20 times last season, admitted: "I understand it has been a frustrating time for the fans with the uncertainty having gone on for a while.

"All I can say to those fans is thank you for a very enjoyable year and I urge them to get behind the rest of the lads, like they got behind me.''

After enjoying seemingly cult status among supporters in his 11 months at the County Ground, Mooney is not without regrets that his stay could not be extended.

"The hardest bit for me was probably telling the gaffer (Andy King),'' added Mooney.

"And one of my disappointments is that I didn't score more than one goal at the Town End.

"Despite moving on, I was more than happy with the contribution I brought to the team.

"I just hope that whoever has the No 8 shirt will have and bring the same impact and enthusiasm that I did.''

As for his own future, Mooney admits he does have options arch rivals Bristol City not among them but nothing has been finalised as yet.

"It is a very, very important decision and I'm not going to rush into it,'' added the former Birmingham frontman.

"It has to be the right one for Tommy Mooney.

"But I hope the move that I make will give me the same buzz as I got coming to Swindon.''

And come the end of the 2004-05 season, Mooney knows what he wants to see.

He added: "The ideal scenario is that the team I am with and Swindon Town will both be promoted.''