Ex-Rotherham United loan man Richie Towell gives his reason for joining League Two Salford City

The midfielder, who spent two years with the Millers and played 34 times in the second tier last season, has signed a two-year contract at the Peninsula Stadium after the expiry of his deal at parent club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Salford have just won promotion to the Football League and Towell reckons their desire to march straight through to League One was a factor in his decision to join them.

"I think to get promoted is definitely one of the club's ambitions," he said. "Obviously we’ve just been promoted last year, so it’s a big task, but I’m sure it’s something that we’re well capable of.

"I want to add to what the team have already been doing. They have been doing really well over the last few seasons so hopefully I can just add to that."

Towell, who was on a lucrative deal at Premier League Brighton, was in talks with Rotherham about a permanent move in the January transfer window but the two parties couldn't come to a financial agreement.

The Millers had planned to try again this summer to try to broker a deal but decided against it when the player's form dipped in the second half of their relegation campaign.

Salford were bought by former Manchester United teammates Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham in 2014 and their subsequent rise up the non-league pryramid has been chronicled in a series of Sky Sport TV programmes.

Towell, aged 27, added: "Ever since I first watched the documentary last year, I could see that the club are going in the right direction. They have the right people on board and I’m really excited to be a part of something special."

Salford manager Graham Alexander said: "We’re delighted to get Richie on board. I think he’s a great addition to our club.

"He’s got lots of experience at Championship level, he’s still a young player with good ambitions and he plays with loads of energy and good aggression. We can’t wait to work with him."