DEFENDER Martin Riley has admitted the chance to team up with former Harriers boss Mark Yates was too great to resist.

The 23-year-old's two-year spell at the Aggborough outfit came to an end when he paid a compensation fee to Harriers, which allowed him to become a free agent last Friday.

He then signed a one-year deal with League Two side Cheltenham Town and teamed up with old boss Yates and his assistant Neil Howarth.

"I'm really excited about this move to Cheltenham, to be playing in the Football League was always my aim," commented the centre back.

"This has taken quite a while. It had been going on three or four weeks because of various factors behind the scenes but it has finally happened.

"But I will never forget my time at Harriers.

"I played 85 times for them and they will always have a special place in my heart, because they're the club that gave me my chance.

"I learned an awful lot there and I wish them and the fans the best of luck for the future.

"They really do deserve to be a league club with the set-up they have got and I hope it happens for them."

The young defender, who was signed in the summer of 2008 after being released by Wolverhampton Wanderers, burst onto the scene when he stood in for the suspended Luke Jones and went onto make 85 appearances.

He became an integral part of the side which made it to the FA Cup third round, where they lost 2-0 to Coventry, and finished in sixth-place in the Conference Premier - just one point outside of the play-offs.

However, with budgets slashed, the team which had come so close to glory was dismantled and the likes of Creighton, Russ Penn, Keith Lowe, Justin Richards and Adam Bartlett moved on.

Riley said: "When I got my chance to play for Harriers I was never really out of the side.

"I struck up a good partnership Mark Creighton and the team were going well.

"Some of the highlights for me were playing in the FA Cup third round at Coventry and the 4-2 win over Stevenage.

"It was a shame the team wasn't able to be kept together because we had been so close to the play-offs, but for financial reasons it had to be broken up.

"Several clubs showed an interest in me then but I decided to stay at Harriers.

"I played nearly 50 games for them last season and it was another good experience."

During the 2009-10 campaign, Riley continued to be a first team regular but new-look Harriers struggled for consistency and the club were further rocked when Yates and Howarth took over the reins at Cheltenham over Christmas.

Steve Burr was handed the Harriers hot-seat and inspired them to a 10-game unbeaten run.

However, their 5-1 loss to Stevenage in the FA Trophy semi-final first leg crushed their confidence and Harriers only managed two wins in their final 14 matches.

Despite being offered a new deal by the club in June, Riley angered fans by refusing to sign and holding out a Football League club.

However, under the Bosman Ruling, Harriers were eligible for compensation fee.

"I was happy with my form in the first half of last season but I did struggle in the second half for several reasons," commented Riley.

"Mark Yates was one of the reasons why I wanted to go to Cheltenham.

"I got on well with Steve [Burr] and enjoyed his training sessions.

"To be fair to him he said he wouldn't stand in a players' way if they wanted to progress."