BALA Town have announced that Welsh Premier League Golden Boot Chris Venables has transferred to the Lakesiders from Aberystwyth Town.

The 30 year-old midfielder netted 20 goals in 30 starts for the Seasiders last season, and has topped the league’s goalscorers' table for the past two seasons.

He follows former Aberystwyth Town captain Stuart Jones to Maes Tegid this summer, and will also link up with former Llanelli teammate Ashley Morris.

Venables was awarded Welsh Premier League’s Player of the Season in 2013/14, and his prolific goal-scoring record has seen him net 72 league goals in the last three seasons for the Seasiders.

“We are hugely delighted to have been able to attract Chris to Maes Tegid," said Chief Executive Nigel Aykroyd.

"It is one of the most significant signing’s in the Club’s history, and demonstrates our desire and intention to compete at the very highest level in the Welsh Premier.

“Chris will add substantial stature to the Club, both on and off the field, and will greatly strengthen the playing squad as we embark ambitiously on another Welsh Premier and European campaign.

“We would also like to record our thanks to Aberystwyth Town officials who handled the transfer in a most professional manner.”

Venables started out at Shrewsbury Town, where he was a youth player, before joining Caersws in 2003/04 and spending four years at the Recreation Ground.

A Welsh Under-23s semi-professional international, Venables switched to Welshpool Town in 2007, before a 12-month first stint at Aberystwyth.

Having helped the Seasiders reach the 2009 Welsh Cup Final, he moved on to Llanelli and spent four seasons with the Reds.Having enjoyed Welsh Cup success and played in the Europa League The 30 year-old won the Golden Boot in 2014 and 2015, and has also been voted the Welsh Premier League Player of the Season."I’m delighted to have signed for Bala, and can’t wait for the season to start and for a new challenge to begin," said Venables.

"Also a huge thanks goes to everybody at Aberystwyth Town for all their support in my time there, I am proud to have represented the club."Venables, who had a year left on his contract at Aberystwyth, is the ninth member of last season’s squad to leave the Park Avenue club this summer.A statement from the Club Directors said: "The decision to allow Chris to move on was a big one for the Club and we would like to reassure supporters that it was not taken lightly."However it makes sense within the context of our aim to lower the average age of the playing squad."Once Chris communicated his desire to leave the Club, with one year remaining on his contract, he would have been free to talk to any other Clubs in January in any case, and leave for free at the end of the season."So on balance we felt that the deal agreed with Bala Town represented the best outcome for Aberystwyth Town Football Club. "We thank Chris for three and a half years tremendous service for Aberystwyth Town Football Club."Three Golden Boots and two Welsh Premier League Player of the Season Awards in his period in Black and Green were a historic achievement, which none of us will forget. We wish him well for the future."