King resigned to Parkin moving on

By Charlie Henderson

Parkin has a record of a goal every other game over three seasons

Swindon manager Andy King has conceded he has his work cut out to keep star striker Sam Parkin for another season.

"He will probably end up moving in the summer and that will be a nightmare for this club - I cannot replace his goals.

"He has another year but there are parts in his contract that allow him to speak to people and the monetary terms in his deal mean the bids will come in.

"I know we've had a bid this week. He's 24 and feels he needs to move his career on," King told BBC Sport.

"If we had gone up I know he would have stayed with the club and finalised the ambition of getting into the Premiership.

"But I feel he's done his three-year apprenticeship and if someone offers the money, he's an ambitious boy and he wants to play at a higher level.

"My job is to get a team together quickly and convince him we can do it here."

He's done it consistently every year and he's the best player in the division Andy King

Parkin has scored 23 goals this term and has reached at least that mark in each of his three seasons at the County Ground - statistics fit for graduation to the Championship.

But King's frustration at losing the former Chelsea youth player is compounded by the fact he will not see much in financial recompense if, or more pertinently when, a move occurs.

"There's a contractual agreement and it ain't as much as we should get, but the offers are already in for him at that level," King added.

"Hull last year offered the same sort of money, but whether they'll do it again this summer having won promotion I don't know.

"I don't see why all of a sudden Peter Taylor would change his mind in 12 months because the boy has got his goals again.

"He's done it consistently every year and he's the best player in the division. Leroy Lita's done it for one year with Bristol City. Let's see if he does it three years on the trot.

"If I've taught him anything I've taught him to take the most ambitious route and not money. Money comes with success. If he chooses the right club the success will come."