IPSWICH new boy Sam Parkin has made his former manager's worst nightmare come true.Swindon boss Andy King has the difficult task of replacing the 24-year-old goal machine after his £450,000 move to Portman Road.

IPSWICH new boy Sam Parkin has made his former manager's worst nightmare come true.

Swindon boss Andy King has the difficult task of replacing the 24-year-old goal machine after his £450,000 move to Portman Road.

King is adamant that Swindon's loss is definitely Ipswich's gain - and that Parkin's goals can be the difference between winning, and narrowly missing out on, promotion to the Premiership.

He said: “I have told their chairman that I think he's got a wonderful signing and it will give Joe Royle the push he needs to get promotion next year.

“They are getting a good player and a wonderful human being. I'll be very happy to see Parkin where he deserves to be, playing in the Premiership.

“I've got no doubt he should play in the Premiership. I can name you players now at that level who aren't as good as Parkin. I hope Joe Royle agrees with me in 12 months' time.”

Parkin netted 73 goals for Swindon after a £50,000 switch from Chelsea in the summer of 2002, playing alongside several different strike partners and in a side that tasted the good and the bad. King, like Royle a former Everton favourite, added: “He's been the best striker at this club for a long time. I don't know of a better one. He's scored goals consistently in a changing Swindon side.

“He's the best striker in this division and he now has the chance to prove he's best at the next level. Once he spoke to Ipswich, that was the end of it for me. I felt he would sign for them.

“It is a real football club. Last year I thought they were the best team not to get promoted.

“Joe Royle has been at the top of the tree as a player and as a manager. Everything's right about the place. It is an exciting time for the kid.

“The only sad part in it is that I'm left here without him. It's a very sad day for Swindon Town.

“With my manager's hat on there's a massive void, but what people have to understand was that in 12 months' time he was walking away from this football club for nothing.

“The other thing was he wanted that challenge at that next level, as we've said. So he's gone but he leaves us with some very, very fond memories.”