From Wembley To Wimbledon

A year is a long time in football. Just 12 months ago, Blackpool were a Championship team. Carlo Ancelotti could do no wrong at Chelsea. England were being tipped left, right and centre to win the World Cup. And Swindon Town were on the verge of promotion to the second tier of English football. 

The Wembley crowd watched in silence as Charlie Austin bore down on David Forde’s goal. The then 20-year-old had been plucked from Poole Town in the lower reaches of the English leagues just eight months earlier. He had racked up 20 goals in 38 games in his first season in professional football; surely he wouldn’t pass up a one-on-one opportunity like this?

Charlie Austin looks on in despair as his shot bobbles wide

Austin steadied to shoot, the far corner of the Millwall goal in his sights. But just as he was about to place it beyond Forde, the ball bobbled up off the much-maligned Wembley turf of last season, and Austin shinned it wide. Jubilation for the Millwall faithful. Despair for the Swindon supporters.

That was Swindon’s best chance to equalise at last year’s League One Play-Off Final, and possibly the very beginning of their severe downward spiral. Exactly 12 months on, Town fans must now get used to that fact that they will be playing at AFC Wimbledon next season, an altogether different proposition to Wembley.

So, just where did it all go wrong?

One problem with coming so close to gaining Championship football is that your star players get a taste for bigger and better things. This was certainly the case for top scorer Billy Paynter, who turned down a new contract with the Robins to join newly promoted Leeds United. Also on the departures list were Danny Ward, who finished his extremely successful loan spell and returned north to Bolton, and captain Gordon Greer, who clearly saw something in Gus Poyet and the Seagulls and moved to the south coast to skipper Brighton to the League One title.

The exit of these three players prompted then manager, Danny Wilson, to enter the transfer market. He brought in numerous squad-strengthening players including former Forest and Leeds midfielder David Prutton and Celtic academy graduates Simon Ferry and Paul Caddis. But, there was no replacement for Paynter, and more importantly, no replacement for Greer.

This meant that inexperienced duo Scott Cuthbert and Sean Morrison would be partnered at centre-back for the first half of the season, a decision that didn’t help the Robins. By New Year, they were placed in 18th, just outside the relegation zone, with the third worst defensive record in the league.

Keeping them afloat was that man again, Charlie Austin. He scored 17 goals in 27 games for Swindon before the January transfer window, the type of form that gets big clubs calling. Offers from Championship clubs came in, all of which were rejected by Swindon, until Austin himself realised the Robins wouldn’t be fighting for promotion and handed in a transfer request. He left for Burnley and Sean Morrison followed him to the Championship with Reading.

Again, the replacements weren’t good enough. Czech defender Milan Misun arrived from Celtic, but sustained an injury in his first week that put him out for the season. Andy Frampton, on loan from Millwall, failed to successfully plug the hole in the defence, and Elliot Benyon failed to reproduce his goal scoring form from Torquay.

But the blame can’t completely rest with the players. Danny Wilson, usually a top manager at League One level, was unable to get his players to produce like he had done in the past. He may have felt that his chance (and this particular squad’s chance) of promotion with Swindon had come and gone.

There was a lack of urgency and motivation within the team, and this didn’t bode well. The Robins went through an 11-game winless streak between January and March, which saw them slip into the relegation zone and saw Danny Wilson resign.

Paul Hart took the reins, but was unable to stop the rot. He couldn’t find a win until his eighth game in charge, and even that didn’t help Swindon turn their fortunes around. Hart’s negative tactics meant Swindon only scored six goals in their 11 games under his guidance, which was never to going to be enough for the Robins to escape the jaws of relegation, which was finally confirmed in late April.

Since then, Andrew Fitton has resigned as Chairman and Paul Hart has been sacked as manager. Board member Jeremy Wray has taken on the role of interim Chairman and in turn appointed the inexperienced Paolo Di Canio as the man to lead Swindon's promotion push. This means that next season will be as fresh of a start as you can get. The Italiant rookie brings with him a wave of optimism as Swindon hope to, much like their 2006/07 campaign, return to League One at the first attempt.

Di Canio: Stroke Of Genius Or Disaster Waiting To Happen?

After slipping indignantly out of League One little over three weeks ago, Swindon Town were at their lowest ebb.

Relegated without a win at home in 2011, it was a sad demise for a side that little over 12 months ago was just one game away from the Championship.

When Jeremy Wray took over as interim chairman after Andrew Fitton stepped down, the businessman was faced with the unenviable task of leading the search for a manager capable of galvanising the club and creating a side capable of promotion at the first attempt next season.

A long and careful interview and selection process finally came to an end yesterday with the appointment of Paolo Di Canio – Wray’s number one target from the moment the Italian made his interest known.

Given the nature of his profile, it is of little surprise that his imminent arrival at Swindon has caused something of a stir in both the media and among all fans of football, and will continue to do so in the coming days.

One thing that football supporters value above all else is passion and commitment, and Di Canio certainly had both of those in abundance as a player.


The 42-year-old was one of the most gifted footballers ever to grace the Premier League and is idolised by the fans of the clubs he has played for.

As is the case with most people, Di Canio has matured as he has got older and has already been backed to go far in management by one of the most respected names in English football, his former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp.



Di Canio is presented to the media

He may not succeed, that is the risk every club takes when appointing a rookie manager, but as per the gambling code, the bigger the risk, the greater the reward. He is clearly ambitious and knows all too well that failure to achieve something with Swindon will push his long-term goal of managing his beloved West Ham further away. 



But for now these are exciting times for the Robins, and if he can instil even a small amount of the passion and commitment he had as a player into the Swindon squad this coming season then he will have been a success. Whether he is successful or not, the game in England is more colourful with him involved and Robins fans should prepare for a tenure that is unlikely to go by without incident - positive or otherwise.

Town Appoint Di Canio

Swindon Town have today announced the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as manager on a two year deal, with the option for a third. The Italian has verbally agreed to join and, with the finer details of the agreement to be ironed out, he will be unveiled early next week.

Following relegation from League One and Paul Hart's expected departure three weeks ago, a summer rebuild at the County Ground was expected and the changes look like they will start in the dugout.

Di Canio was one of eight prospective managers shortlisted and subsequently interviewed last week by interim chairman Jeremy Wray for the Town vacancy, with others believed to include George Burley and Dietmar Hamann.

The former West Ham striker, who was working as a pundit in his native Italy, had been keen to move into the dugout for some time although many anticipated his managerial bow to possibly be made higher up the football pyramid, the recent availability of the Upton Park top job only fuelling these views. 

His illustrious play career included spells with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and Milan, with whom he won the Serie A title, before moving to Celtic in 1996. A two-year spell at Sheffield Wednesday followed before a switch to West Ham in 1999, where he enjoyed huge success and lit up the Premier League, remaining idolised by the Hammers faithful to this day.

Having agreed to take up the reigns at the County Ground, the fiery Italian will be handed the task of masterminding an immediate return to League One, and will almost certainly aid the club's current season ticket initiative, as fans flock to see the star name in action.

Swindon themselves have not been afraid to take gambles in the past, having offered platforms to inexperienced managers such as Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles and Dennis Wise, but if Di Canio's management style is anything like his conduct as a player, fans, players and board members alike can expect an eventful season.

Robins Roulette: Hotseat Contenders

Following a miserable 2010/11 campaign in which relegation to the Football League's basement division was confirmed, Swindon find themselves searching for a new manager to take up the reigns, steady the already sunken ship and lead the Robins revival.

With in excess of 20 applicants already, the board are faced with one of their most important decisions in years with the appointment of the next manager, who will be handed the task of masterminding an immediate return to League One.

The board of directors themselves have the unenviable task of selecting the new manager, fully in the knowledge that a bad or indeed wrong decision could further anger fans as the club attempts to regain some stability. To their credit, board members have determined a number of attributes they wish the new boss to possess, including an abundance of passion for the club, a footballing brain keen to progress WITH the team and a name to excite both fans and players alike.

Having whittled the contenders down to the more realistic options, this post will attempt to analyse the potential manager's credentials, experience and ultimately their suitability to the job of overseeing a League Two promotion push.

Paul Bodin: Given his lack of experience in management, appointing the current caretaker manager would be a gamble by interim chairman Jeremy Wray, but a certain amount of confidence in him was evident in handing him caretaker charge, and he would still likely be a popular choice among Swindon fans given his history with the club. The former Wales international has worked behind the scenes at the County Ground for the past decade, managing the club's youth and reserves team and his knowledge of Town is second to none, meaning he meets the remit set by Wray of being passionate about Swindon Town and having the interests of the club ahead of his own.

Glenn Hoddle: A cult hero idolised by many a Town fan having led the club to its solitary year in the Premiership, Hoddle was recently in attendance at two Swindon games, openly admitting his desire to secure a link with his renowned football academy. Odds on him have recently been slashed, however, with his links to the club, footballing intelligence and new-found loyalty (evident in previous decisions to stick by his academy), boding him in good stead should an approach for his services be made.

Paul Trollope: Having been spotted at several Town games recently and paired with former Chairman Andrew Fitton's self-proclaimed admiration of him, Trollope's interest in the position was first declared after Danny Wilson's shock resignation. Boasting a wealth of experience at League Two level, having previously guided Bristol Rovers to promotion from the division, the former Town trainee and son of a Swindon legend still divides opinions among fans and would have to win the majority over.

Richard Money: Out of the game since leaving Luton earlier this year, Money has good pedigree in the lower leagues of English football and his most notable achievement was to take Walsall to the League Two title four years ago, a feat Town fans would hope to replicate next season. While he has the credentials, handing Money the job would again go against Wray's desire to appoint someone who is both passionate about Swindon and dedicated to putting the club’s advancement ahead of their own career.

Paul Buckle: Currently the manager of Torquay United, Buckle was instrumental in taking the club back into the Football League and has them firmly in contention for promotion this season, having achieved a third play-off spot in four years for the club. Torquay have improved year on year since the 40-year-old was named manager four years ago and is undoubtedly one of the most promising young managers in the game, although contract issues and potential compensation are likely to hinder any attempt to acquire his services.

Paolo Di Canio: The former West Ham striker recently emerged as a shock contender for the vacant manager's position with one bookmaker taking flurry of bets on the fiery Italian at the weekend. Di Canio would be the ultimate risk, having no previous managerial experience and no affiliation with the club, but such a big name is likely to excite supporters and increase season ticket sales as fans flock to see whether his infamous temperament lives on.

Glenn Hoddle 7/2
Paul Trollope 9/2
Richard Money 7/1
Paul Bodin 9/1
Wally Downes 8/1
Phil Parkinson10/1
Paul Buckle 10/1
Paolo Di Canio 5/1
Martin Ling 14/1
Peter Taylor 14/1
Kevin Blackwell 14/1
Michael Appleton 14/1
Mark Kinsella 14/1
Colin Calderwood 14/1
John Hughes 14/1
Dennis Wise 14/1

Rare Robins Win Restores Some Pride

A fine first half performance ensured Swindon at least ended a disappointing season on a high note as goals from Lecsinel Jean-Francois and Michael Timlin sealed a 2-0 victory over Tranmere at Prenton Park.

With both teams' respective fates already sealed and nothing but pride to play for between them, the game provided both sides with the perfect opportunity to begin preparation for next season's campaign's, and Swindon certainly exerted this option, fielding no less than six fringe players at various intervals throughout the match.

Tranmere were out of the blocks the quickest and nearly took a first minute lead when Aaron Cresswell's corner was flicked inventively towards goal by Ash Taylor, who was unlucky to see his effort hit the side netting.

But Town soon got into their stride, and were in front with their first attack of the match after 13 minutes through Lescinel Jean-Francois. A Michael Rose corner found Scott Cuthbert at the back post, who's instinctive decision to head the ball back across goal allowed the Haitian defender Lescinell to sweep the ball home.

The hosts should have been back on level terms just minutes later as Phil Smith pamled a Lucas Akins effort straight into the path of Tranmere's teen sensation Dale Jennings, who somehow sidefooted wide with the goal at his mercy.

Swindon, however, continued to look bright and could have been two up as first Nathan Thompson's 25-yard drive was too hot to handle for Tony Warner, who parried it into the ground, before the verteran 'keeper recovered well to deny Elliot Benyon's follow up.

It was Town who went close again on 34 minutes, with Billy Bodin inches away from his first Robins goal. The enthusiastic youngster charged down an attempted clearance from Warner, only to loop the bouncing ball over the 'keeper's head and agonisingly wide of the post.

As the half drew to a close, Bodin again went close, turning Taylor brilliantly on the halfway line before aiming a shot just wide of the far post.

The Welsh youngster did, however, play a part in Town's second goal. Collecting the ball on the halfway line, Bodin sent Michael Timlin racing clear with an excellent pass, before the midfielder exchanged a one-two with Paul Caddis and curled a superb 25-yard effort beyond Warner and into the back of the net.

Tranmere started the second half just as they had begun the first, going close to scoring this time with a curling Cresswell free kick beating Smith but not the post.

The hosts continued to enjoy the better of the play as the match progressed, although struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Both sides took their feet off the gas with a quarter of an hour remaining, with neither looking likely to add to the scoreline.

Swindon saw out the remainder of the clash with relative ease, capping a miserable season with the consolation of what was a deserved and comfortable victory.

Swindon's Samsung Scoop

Paul Caddis modelling Town's
 stylish new home strip

Many football teams target this stage of the season for the unveiling of next season's prospective kits, both in a bid to excite fans and to attract players for the next campaign, often proudly displaying the club's business links on the prized jersey.

Following the inevitable relegation to League Two and the wave of news that followed it, Swindon's board and PR department chose the team's last home game against Oldham Athletic as the ideal platform for launching next season's kit. Having endured such a torrid weak, it was widely hoped that the unveiling event would both lift fans' spirits and provide them with something to look forward to, with League Two football on the horizon.

Under former chairman Andrew Fitton's stewardship, Town fans have been privelaged to experience such industry heavyweights as FourFourTwo Magazine and EA Sports' Fifa series sponsoring each of the club's home and away strips, featuring prominently in the designs. However, having had to stomach the raw feeling of demotion to the Football League's basement division and Fitton's resignation both in the same week, supporters were united in their beliefs that securing such lucrative sponsors would be a lot harder said than done considering the club's now League Two status.

Swindon fans, however, need not have worried, as the club announced Samsung, a background sponsor for the last year, had taken up the option to become the club's main sponsors, whilst both FourFourTwo and EA Sports had retained sponsorship packages, with Fifa 12 featuring on the back of the shirts and the FourFourTwo logo on the rear of the shorts respectively. Adidas will also produce the team's shirts for a third consecutive season, the latest in a long line of sensational scoops by the club's board.

The match itself was a meaningless tie between two teams whose fate for the next season had already been sealed, with two moments of quality from Oldham Athletic captain Chris Taylor proving to be the difference between the sides as Swindon fell to a 2-0 defeat at the County Ground.

Paul Bodin's first match as caretaker manager of the Robins had all the hallmarks of an end-of-season dead rubber, with neither side looking particularly interested in wrestling the initiative and, although Town created the better chances, they could have few complains over the results.

Town made a bright start to the match and might have been in front within five minutes as Simon Ferry showed great vision to send Billy Bodin through on goal, only for the youngster to see his low shot drag wide of the far post.

The hosts continued to dominate the opening exchanges, with Oldham goalkeeper Dean Brill called in to some early action, doing well to hold on to Lescinel Jean-Francois header, who rose well to meet a Jon-Paul McGovern cross.

However, despite all of their early pressure, Town found themselves behind after 20 minutes as Taylor was allowed space to cut inside on to his favourite right foot and drill an unstoppable drive past Phil Smith. The goal disrupted Swindon's early pressure, and the match subsequently lost much of its opening competitiveness, with neither side operating to full-strength.

Little action followed as the Latics saw out the first half with considerable ease and, despite a half-hearted penalty appeal from youngster Bodin, having been brushed off the ball in the box, went into half time holding onto a 1-0 lead.

The visitors made the brighter start to the second period, but it was Town who went closest to notching the game's second goal as a Michael Rose cross evaded the heads of the Oldham defence to fall for an unmarked Calvin Andrew who was denied by Brill from close range, before the Latics 'keeper reacted brilliantly to parry McGovern's first-time follow-up.

Despite Matt Ritchie then forcing Brill to save well from the resultant corner, which the 'keeper did well to fingertip wide, Town found themselves with a mountain to climb after 70 minutes and it was the impressive Taylor who again proved to be their nemesis. The Oldham captain, who saw his initial shot blocked, pounced on to the loose ball before side-footing it past Smith and into the corner from 20 yards.

To their credit, Swindon continued to put pressure on the Oldham rearguard, but a lack of potency in attack was looking likely to be their downfall again as the match drifted towards the final whistle.

All in all, the match proved to be a fitting way to end a hugely disappointing season as, despite being so often in control of possession, Town flattered to decieve in attack and conceded avoidable goals at the back.