JON Stead says joining Bristol City was an easy decision for him to make in the end.

The former Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Sheffield United striker finally completed his £225,000 move to Ashton Gate from Championship rivals Ipswich Town yesterday, more than six weeks after the Robins first made their interest known.

Speaking for the first time after penning a three-year deal, the 27-year-old Yorkshireman explained the reasons for the delay.

"I couldn't make any decisions until I had all my options lined up," said Stead, whose proposed move to Bristol stalled during the final week of July.

"There were other clubs interested and I decided to take my time. I've moved about a bit too much in my career and I wanted to make sure I was coming to the right club. I didn't want to rush into anything I might regret later."

A target for former City boss Steve Coppell, Stead feared the deal would collapse completely when the former Manchester United and England winger resigned his post earlier this month.

But new manager Keith Millen revived talks and Stead said: "I was relieved and delighted when he told me how much he wanted me at the club.

"I thought it was dead in the water when Steve Coppell left and I thought I was going to have to look elsewhere. But Keith was still interested and, once we'd had a chat, it was an easy decision for me to make."

City have also completed the signing of up-and-coming forward Brett Pitman from Bournemouth, also on a three-year deal, and Stead welcomes the competition for places at Ashton Gate.

David Clarkson, Albert Adomah, Sam Vokes, John Akinde and Marlon Jackson are already on the books and City boss Millen will have more than enough attacking options when Danny Haynes and Nicky Maynard, last season's top scorers, are back from injury.

Stead said: "You need to have that level of competition if you want to get to the Premier League. That is why we are all here, after all, and knowing they had so many good strikers in the squad had a bearing on my decision to join.

"These days, any successful team has to have four or five strikers all pushing for places at the same time. It's no good if you know you are going to play every week, because that is not going to keep you on your toes in training."

In and out of the Ipswich side last season and eventually transfer-listed by Town boss Roy Keane this summer, Stead has joined City in search of long-term stability.

He explained: "I've now reached a stage in my career where I need a stable environment and to play regularly, and a three-year contract gives me the chance to do that here."

Like Stead, 22-year-old Pitman will be hoping to make his debut in Saturday's Championship clash against Ipswich at Portman Road.

The Jersey-born striker insists the step up from League One and Two with Bournemouth holds no fears for him.

"It's something that excites me," said Pitman, who turned down a move to Premier League Blackpool to sign for City. "People always go on about the difference between the various leagues and how difficult it is to make the step up, but I've scored goals at whatever level I have played at and I would like to think that will continue now I'm a Bristol City player.

"I had my own personal reasons for not joining Blackpool and I was already aware that Keith Millen wanted me down here. I'm sure this is the best move I can make. This is an ambitious club that wants to be in the Premier League and that is my aim also.

"All I want now is to get into the first team and show what I can do."