It has been reported of the official St. Johnstone website that Irishman Keith O'Halloran has left the Scottish Premiership club to join Swindon Town in the English Second Division.

O'Halloran has been in talks with Swindon boss Colin Todd over the past month and it seems that the former Bolton manager has won the battle for the Irish midfielder. Keith moves under the Bosman ruling after St. Johnstone allowed his contract to expire.

His reasons for leaving Scotland are being criticised by many people involved with the Scottish Premier club. O'Halloran said the main reason he was leaving was that he was unhappy at having to struggle for a game at St. Johnstone but this does not hold any credence since he lined out 35 times for the club last season. Only three players at the club beat O'Halloran's tally.

Keith joined St. Johnstone from Middlesbrough in March 1997 for £50,000 after loan spells at Scunthorpe and Cardiff. He played 84 first-class games for the Scottish club and despite being offered a new deal by manager Sandy Clark he decided to leave as he felt the standard of football in the English Second Division would be higher than in Scotland.