CHRISTIAN Roberts wants to lead Town to promotion after a £50,000 bid for the striker was accepted by Bristol City yesterday.

The Welshman's agent will be locked in talks with Andy King today in a bid to agree personal terms, but Roberts' heart already seems set on a switch to the County Ground.

He told the Adver: "When Bristol City said they weren't going to renew my contract, I had a couple of other clubs in mind that I wanted to go to and Swindon was one of them.

"I've played against them a few times while at City and it's a really decent set-up.

"My agent will get on to it straight away and hopefully things will get sorted quickly."

Town have been here before recently with Darius Henderson.

But while negotiations with the Gillingham man broke down, Roberts is confident that a deal can be struck even though he recently rejected moves to fellow League One clubs Blackpool and Port Vale.

He said: "I'm not after Premiership wages. I just want promotion

"If I sign for Swindon it will be to get promotion.

"I've missed out twice at City and it's what I really want.

"That's why I turned down Blackpool and Port Vale, but I believe Swindon are capable of doing it."

Town offered £20,000 up front for the 24-year-old, with a further £30,000 in instalments.

With City boasting six high-profile forwards, Roberts found himself well down the pecking order and the bid was accepted.

City chairman Steve Lansdown confirmed: "At present we cannot give Christian any guarantees regarding the offer of a new contract at the end of the season. It is therefore only fair to allow him to speak to another club that is showing an interest, if he wishes to do so. He has indicated he does want to speak to Swindon."

Town's acting chief executive Bob Holt had concerns that the deal might be scuppered by loss of revenue from the postponed visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

But Town are due to receive a cash injection from the Football League next week when they disperse a share of sponsorship and television money to their member clubs.

That will bolster the kitty sufficiently to cover the initial payment for Roberts, although Holt is still keeping a tight hold of the purse strings.

"Our offer has been accepted and it's now down to the player to agree personal terms," he said.

"The postponement of the Sheffield Wednesday game has cost us £40,000 and we won't see that money again.

"But we've got to make our best efforts to keep the crowds coming by bringing in players like this.

"It's a long-term investment.

"I think we've come a long way from three years ago when the club nearly had to close, but we've still got to be very careful with the cashflow."

Roberts' agent is due to go on holiday on Monday so any deal for the player should be completed at the weekend.

n Luton manager Mike Newell and top goalscorer Steve Howard have been offered new contracts after the Hatters' excellent start to the season.

Town are unbeaten after 11 matches and can extend their 100 per cent home league record to six matches with victory over Newell's old club Hartlepool tonight.

Howard has been instrumental in the club reaching the top of Coca-Cola League One, scoring five goals to add to the 16 he netted last season.

Newell was sacked by Pools in May 2003 despite leading the club into what was then the Second Division.