SAMMY IGOE has never been happier in 10 years as a professional footballer and has indicated that an extended stay at the County Ground is an extremely appealing prospect.
The 28-year-old signed a two-year contract in the summer, but admits that he would be only too happy to talk about penning a new deal if Andy King felt it was an option he wanted to pursue.
Igoe's season has been disrupted by suspension and injury but he feels he is starting to get back to the sort of form he displayed in the early weeks of the season.
He puts that down to the fact that he feels happy and relaxed at the County Ground with a manager who supports him and colleagues who care about working for a collective cause rather than selfishly playing for themselves.
Igoe said: "I was sitting on the coach on the way up to Sheffield Wednesday, looked around me and thought 'what a great football club this is'. Everything is so relaxed, yet positive and determined.
"The team spirit is fantastic and the belief which was there at the start of the season is really starting to come through again.
"I think happy footballers are always likely to perform better than unhappy ones and I think that's the situation we have here at the club.
"There is a long way still to go but I really believe we have what it takes here to reach the play-offs at the end of this season and be successful in them.
"The gaffer made the point about players aspiring to play at places like Hillsborough and he's right.
"I said the same thing to Brian Howard the other day. There are great incentives to get out of this league, quality stadiums in Division One being one of them."
Igoe admits while he was successful at Reading, it wasn't always enjoyable. He believes he can have both at Swindon Town in the short term and maybe a little bit further ahead too.
He said: "I have a two-year contract but I'd certainly be more than happy to talk about extending that in the summer. But for now, it's a cliche about concentrating on the next challenge.
"At Reading we had a system whereby you'd divide the season in blocks of five games. You wouldn't look any further than that."
If Town are to achieve their play-off dream, Andy King will need Igoe to remain fit. There is certainly encouraging news as far as his much-documented wrist injury is concerned.
He said: "I'm still wearing a protective cast for games but not always in training. It feels almost there and I'm not suffering any pain."
The midfielder is due for a follow-up check on the scaphoid injury later this month.
The Vale and West Oxon branch of the Swindon Town Supporters Club is holding a meeting at Hanney Royal British Legion tomorrow night (7.30pm).
Guests include chief executive Mark Devlin, commercial manager Mike Sullivan with a couple of players also likely to be in attendance.
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