Douglas Departure The Unlucky Thirteenth?

Jonathan Douglas today confirmed his exit from the County Ground, joining League One side Brentford upon the expiry of his Swindon contract, and could prove to be the biggest loss on a list of departures that now totals thirteen players.

Douglas, Swindon captain last year and a virtual mainstay in the centre of Town's midfield during his two years with the club, is thought to have rejected the offer of a new two-year contract, seemingly ending his affilation with the Robins and instead remain in League One with Brentford.

The news comes as something as a blow for Swindon fans, with Douglas being one of a handful of players from last season's debacle that supporters were keen to keep hold of. The decision will hugely disappoint fans as many, if not all, felt that a midfield with Jonathan Douglas in it would certainly be an asset in the Football League's basement division.

Nonetheless, the club, the board and interim Chairman Jeremy Wray did everything in their power to keep Douglas at the club. He was offered new contract terms relevant to the Club's new League Two status. He was told that he would feature in manager Paolo Di Canio's plans. He would remain one of the club's highest earners. And yet, like so many players in the modern game, loyalty just isn't key in making a decision about their respective futures.

During his two years with the club, combative midfielder Douglas made 84 appearances, with his only goal to date coming against Sheffield Wednesday in a match that sealed Swindon's relegation. Despite his goalscoring record flattering to decieve, Douglas' experience, presence and midfield prowess are all attributes that will be sorely missed as Town look likely to begin another Pre-Season with the loss of a captain.

Fans will hope that Douglas's departure will not mirror the effects that former skipper Gordon Greer's had just twelve months ago. Greer's untimely move to eventual League One Champions Brighton and Hove Albion is considered one of the most significant of contributions to Town's downward spiral and supporters are keen for history not to repeat itself upon Douglas' departure.

In a bid to appease frustrated fans, the signing of experienced centre back Alberto Comazzi has been confirmed. The former AC Milan and Hellas Verona player has signed a two-year contract at the County Ground and joins Joe Devera, Jonathan Smith and Raffaele De Vita as Swindon's Summer signings. The squad, or what is remaining of it, meanwhile, will be joined by three trialists for their tour of Italy, in the form of virtual unknowns Ibrahim Atiku and Oliver Risser, and infamous football 'badboy' Leon Knight.

The Italian Job

Swindon's third Summer signing -
Raffaele De Vita

Paolo Di Canio returned to town yesterday and brought with him news of Swindon's third signing of the Summer, sealing the capture of Italian striker Raffaele De Vita on a free transfer.

Di Canio's initial arrival after a two-week hiatus in Italy coinscided with Wednesday's press conference, although no announcements on new signings were made. Despite completing a medical and meeting club executives on Wednesday evening, De Vita's signing was only confirmed yesterday, becoming the third player to arrive at the Country Ground close season.

De Vita - a former Blackburn trainee - has spent the past three seasons with newly-promoted Scottish Division One side Livingston. Since signing for Livi in 2008, he has gone on to make 67 appearances, scoring 21 goals as the Lions secured successive league titles in Division Two and Three respectively.

The general consensus amongst Town fans is that the signing is a positive move for a Swindon side with a severly depleted front line, although Di Canio insists the signing of De Vita is 'one for the future' and that he has targetted two further first-team strikers that he hopes to sign next week.

Whilst Di Canio secured the services of his fellow countryman De Vita through his desire to win promotion, he is having more trouble in bringing another Italian to the club; Alberto Comazzi. The 32 year old centre back is currently unattached and although he is said to be keen on a move to Swindon, faces the prospect of moving a settled family should he accept Town's terms.

The Italian defender has spent his entire career in his homeland, enjoying eight years at current Serie B side Hellas Verona and counts the likes of Lazio and AC Milan amongst his former clubs. He does, however, have offers from clubs back in Italy and is thought to be mulling his options over, though if Di Canio's assurances are anything to go by he should be a Swindon player this time next week.

Three More Exit Through Town's Revolving Door

Benyon joins Wycombe

Lescinel Jean-Francois, Elliot Benyon and Jon-Paul McGovern took Swindon's Summer departure list to elevens players today, joining Sheffield United, Wycombe Wanderers and Carlisle United respectively. The eleven exits from the Country Ground vastly outweigh the two arrivals in Town as Robins manager Paolo Di Canio continues his rebuilding process.

Lescinel - who joined Town in 2009 on an initial short-term deal - rejected the offer of a new contract on the table at Swindon and will join former Robins manager Danny Wilson at Brammall Lane as he looks to build a side capable of promotion.

It's a target Town themselves will of course be aiming for, but the Haitian defender has become the latest of ten players to depart the Country Ground this Summer, joining the likes of Scott Cuthbert and Alan Sheehan who left to join Leyton Orient and Notts Country respectively.



Lescinel links up with Wilson

Many Swindon fans will be disappointed to hear the news, even more so that the club will recieve no fee for the versaitle defender, being both out-of-contract and over the age of 24. Seen technically as Town's best defender, Lescinel will be fondly remembered by Robins fans, gaining a cult hero status amongst supporters for playing a full ninety minutes in the Robins' Wembley defeat - just days after mourning the death of his younger sister.

The 2009/10 season saw Lescinel play more than a supporting role in Swindon's near promotion campaign. A regular starter at first, including a magnificent match at left back against Southampton in August, he eventually lost out to the similarly-departed Sheehan.

However, at centre back is perhaps where he is best suited, proving to be competent on the ball, possessing good distribution and being an excellent tackler, all attributes Sheffield United fans will embrace positively after a season to forget.

Meanwhile, striker Benyon has similarly found the lure of League One football too hard to turn down, signing for Wycombe on a season-long loan deal as they prepare for a season in the Football League's second tier. The move leaves Swindon with just one registered striker in Billy Bodin - both frustrating and worrying Town fans.

Benyon only joined Swindon in January 2011, signing a two deal for an undisclosed sum of money. Despite scoring 46 times in 88 starts for previous club Torquay United, the self-proclaimed Wycombe fan failed to adapt to life in League One, scoring just once in an end-of-season run-in disrupted by injuries and managerial changes.

McGovern signed for Town in 2007 and has gone on to make over 150 appearances for the Robins, scoring eight league goals. But, just like the majority of the Swindon squad last season, McGovern had an inconsistent campaign and has become the latest player to be allowed to move on - again with no fee involved.

Last season will be one to forget for all Robins fans, a campaign that promised so much on the back of the previous year's play-off escapades, as Swindon were relegated and news of disgruntlement amongst the squad broke out. The likes of Sheehan, David Prutton and Michael Rose, all said to be part of a 'clique culture' within the side, will now not be at the club next season, a silver lining perhaps for the Town faithful.

The Town squad now stands at 22 players, but with 12 of these have little or no first team experience, supporters worries and frustrations have been increasingly voiced. Fans of the League Two club have, however, been assured that news regarding new signings will come soon, and they will be just as hopeful that with the news comes a new wave of positivity, optimism and, more importantly, new players.

Di Canio Continues Robins Rebuild

Paolo Di Canio's arrival as manager has seen six departures from a Town squad already depleted through the return of three loan players to their parent clubs. However, following Monday's arrival of Joe Devera and Jonathan Smith from Barnet and York City respectively, the Italian believes a further five new players are required if Town are to realistically target promotion next season.

Former Juventus striker Vincent Pericard and Polish 'keeper Jakub Jesionkowski leave Town having not been offered opportunited to renew their respective contracts. They join Michael Rose, David Prutton, Alan Sheehan and Scott Cuthbert on Swindon's departure list as Di Canio continues to make his mark on the Town squad.

So, with that in mind, just what signings are still needed for the 2011-12 season?

Goalkeeper: With number one David Lucas recently having signed a new contract and Phil Smith providing more than adequate cover, a 'keeper wont be necessary as Di Canio wheels and deals in the transfer market. Young stopper Mark Scott has also told the club he wants to stay. The 20-year-old was one of nine players out-of-contract at the end of the season and has verbally accepted a new one-year deal, whilst the aforementioned Jesionkowski falls victim to Town's relegation, leaving the club for pastures new.

Defence: Town have three players able to play in the right back position. Paul Caddis had a superb first season there but looks increasingly likely be deployed to the right wing next season. Kevin Amankwaah, a player who shone in 2009/10's play-off achieving side, had a poor and inconsistent 2010/11 campaign disrupted by injuries. He does, however, remain an adequate full back for League Two standard with youngster Nathan Thompson, who recently signed a new one-year contract, set to challenge him for the right back berth.

Lescinel on his way?

At left back however, both Michael Rose and Alan Sheehan have left the club (to Colchester United and Notts Counry respectively) leaving the youthful and inexperienced Callum Kennedy as Town's remaining left back. Both Lescinel Jean-Francois and Michael Timlin are able to adapt to left back but both are yet to accept the new deals offered to them, making it increasingly likely that a left back is logically a must for Di Canio in the transfer market.

One of Swindon's key failures last season was the inability to replace the leadership qualities displayed by former captain Gordon Greer in the centre of defence, who joined Brighton last Summer. Scott Cuthbert has recently left for pastures new and with Jean-Francois believed to be on the move, Town's remaining centre halves are two 'future talents' in Adent Flint and Milan Misun. Devera's signing from Barnet seems to be a direct replacement for Cuthbert but an experienced, leader is still an absolute must for Di Canio in the transfer market as Town seek to put right last season's failures.



Douglas set to stay?

Midfield: The main talking point in midfield is that of captain Jonathan Douglas' future. The skipper is another of the out-of-contract players but is yet to be offered a new deal. The combative central midfielder was influential in Town's fine 2009/10 season and, despite an inconsitent campaign last year, is one of a few players Swindon fans hope to see in a red jersey next season. With Timlin seemingly stalling on a new deal and reports linking him with a return to Southend United, with whom he previously had a successful loan spell, Di Cano's move to bring in Jonathan Smith from York City could prove to be a direct replacement for the former Fulham midfielder.

Matt Ritchie's form on the left wing last season was one of very few positives from a campaign to forget for Town fans. The former Portsmouth midfielder recently stated his intent to remain at Swindon and could prove to be an invaluable asset for the Robins.

Down the opposite flank, Jon-Paul McGovern looks increasingly likely to depart the County Ground, with the national media linking him with a move to Sheffield United to be reuinted with former Town boss Danny Wilson. The versatile Caddis is, therefore, likely to be his direct replacement, earning good reviews when deployed there last season. Therefore, a player able to position himself on either wing is likely to be on Di Canio's agenda as he strives to build a team capable of promotion.

Benyon yet to impress

Attack: A lack of goals last season was a significant factor in Town's demise and ultimately their relegation. Following Charlie Austin's January move to Championship club Burnley, Swindon scored just 13 goals in 20 games, with replacements for both him and Billy Paynter not living up to expectations. However, Elliot Benyon is proven in League Two, scoring 14 goals for play-off runners up Torquay before his move to Town and could prove to be an important asset in Swindon's strikeforce upon his and Town's return to the Football League's basement divison. At least two strikers are therefore are an absolute necessity for Di Canio and Swindon, with the inesperienced Billy Bodin currently Town's only registered forward.

The key for Paolo Di Canio this season will be quality, not quanitity. Under Football League rulings, League Two holds a mandatory wage cap that limits spending on players' wages to 60% of club turnover. Despite having one of the bigger budgets in the division, Di Canio and indeed interim chairman Jeremy Wray have suggested a squad of 22 being a reasonable attribute for a Town squad aiming for promotion.

Swindon Town 2011/12 Fixture List

Following the release of 2011/12's fixtures, Town fans have greeted the looming League Two campign with a fresh wave of optimism.

Undoubtedly, the fixture most eagerly anticipated among Town fans being the return of the A420 derby with local rivals Oxford United, following a ten year absence. Matches against the fiercest of rivals will take place on August 21st and March 3rd respectively, and will be the first experience of such a fixture for many fans.

Elsewhere on the fixture list, fans will also have an eye on local games with Cheltenham Town Bristol Rovers. Games at the Whaddon Road and the Memorial Stadium take place August 13th and December 10th respectively, with Swindon's home fixtures against their near neighbours both scheduled for March.

Swindon fans will also look forward to fixtures with newly promoted Crawley Town and AFC Wimbledon. Eager to avenge last season's embarrassing FA Cup defeat to then non-league minnows Crawley, matches against the Football League's Red Devils will be hotly anticipated. Meanwhile, having gained promotion in the most spectacular of fashions, a penalty shoot out in the Blue Square Premier's play-off final, AFC Wimbledon find themselves entering the Football League just nine years after formation, granting fans of most League Two clubs a new away day.

Swindon Town League Two Fixture List 2011/12 In Full

August 2011

Saturday 6th - Swindon Town Vs Crewe Alexandra
Saturday 13th - Cheltenham Town Vs Swindon Town
Tuesday 16th - Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Swindon Town
Sunday 21st - Swindon Town Vs Oxford United
Saturday 27th - Shrewsbury Town Vs Swindon Town

September 2011

Saturday 3rd - Swindon Town Vs RotherhamUnited
Saturday 10th  - Swindon Town Vs Southend United
Tuesday 13th - Crawley Town Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 17th - Burton Albion Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 24th - Swindon Town Vs Barnet
Friday 30th - Macclesfield Town Vs Swindon Town

October 2011

Saturday 8th - Swindon Town Vs Hereford United
Saturday 15th - Accrington Stanley Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 22nd -Plymouth Argyle Vs Swindon Town
Tuesday 25th - Swindon Town Vs Gillingham
Saturday 29th - Swindon Town Vs Bradford City

November 2011

Saturday 5th -Port Vale Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 19th - AFC Wimbledon Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 26th - Swindon Town Vs Aldershot Town

December 2011

Saturday 10th - Bristol Rovers Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 17th - Swindon Town Vs Morecambe
Monday 26th - Torquay United Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 31st - Northampton Town Vs Swindon Town

January 2012

Monday 2nd - Swindon Town Vs AFC Wimbledon
Saturday 7th - Swindon Town Vs Shrewsbury Town
Saturday 14th - Rotherham United Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 21st - Swindon Town Vs Macclesfield Town
Saturday 28th - Southend United Vs Swindon Town

February 2012

Saturday 4th - Swindon Town Vs Burton Albion
Saturday 11th - Barnet Vs Swindon Town
Tuesday 14th - Swindon Town Vs Crawley Town
Saturday 18th - Hereford United Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 25th - Swindon Town Vs Accrington Stanley

March 2012

Saturday 3rd - Oxford United Vs Swindon Town
Tuesday 6th - Swindon Town Vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Saturday 10th - Swindon Town Vs Cheltenham Town
Saturday 17th - Crewe Alexandra Vs Swindon Town
Tuesday 20th - Swindon Town Vs Torquay United
Saturday 24th - Aldershot Town Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 31st - Swindon Town Vs Bristol Rovers

April 2012

Saturday 7th - Morecambe Vs Swindon Town
Monday 9th - Swindon Town Vs Northampton Town
Saturday 14th -Swindon Town Vs Plymouth Argyle
Saturday 21st - Gillingham Vs Swindon Town
Saturday 28th - Swindon Town Vs Port Vale

May 2012

Saturday 5th - Bradford City Vs Swindon Town

Swindon Handed Local Derby In Carling Cup Draw

Thursday's Carling Cup Draw may not have been as highly anticipated as the annual fixture release, scheduled for tomorrow, but it offers football fans a genuine chance to get excited for the approaching football season. The draw itself has the added attraction of being regionalised for the first round through the North-South divide, with the potential of being drawn against a local team or rival an additional excitement factor for fans country-wide. 

The draw indeed proved to be exciting for Swindon fans as it pitted Town against local rivals Bristol City, a derby game that hasn't featured on the fixture lists of respective supporters of the teams for six years.The game, to be played at City's Ashton Gate ground, becomes the first meeting between the two sides nicknamed the Robins since 2006.

That match ended in a 1-1 draw between the two sides in front of a packed 15,621 crowd at Ashton Gate, a game which ultimately saw Town relegated to League Two. Relegaton for any set of fans is a devastating experience, but to see their team demoted by local rivals proved to be a bitter pill for Swindon fans to swallow.

Rory Fallon celebrates after his
sensational overhead strike

Just months previously, Swindon themselves had gained local bragging rights, beating City 2-1 in the reverse fixutre with Rory Fallon hitting the winner. Fallon became a key player in Town's derby outings against their Bristol rivals, scoring an incredible late equaliser in the fixture two years earlier, striking a sweet overhead kick beyond the reaches of 'keeper Steve Phillips and in off the underside of the bar.

Perhaps Swindon's most successful appearance at Ashton Gate came in the 2004/05 season and saw loan striker Darius Henderson score with a header in each half, sandwiching Tommy Doherty's strike seconds before half time. David Duke saw red for two yellow cards in quick succession before Town hung on well to earn a hard fought victory.

With the tie set to take place on Tuesday August, each and every Swindon fan can look forward to a derby game against a local rival, with the chance to avenge the last meeting which saw Town relegated.

First Pieces Of Paolo's Jigsaw

New signings at Swindon are like busses; you wait a long time for one and then two appear at once. Jon-Paul McGovern and Simon Cox arrived in this fashion just four years ago. And now it seems the Robins are up to their old tricks as they announced two new signings for the 2011/12 League Two season - both having gone under the radar among Town fans. 

New Town signing Jonathan Smith



Having seen four players leave a squad already depleted by Town's 2010/11 loan signings return to their respective parent clubs, supporters had already began to question the club's intent for the coming season, growing frustrated as last week's promised signings didn't materialise.

But, just as Town fans were thinking their wait for new signings was going to enter a third week, local press this Morning reported on a double signing which kicks off Paolo Di Canio's tenure.

Arriving in Town are Barnet's player of the year Joe Devera and combative York City midfielder Jonathan Smith. Both have signed two year deals and both are said to be eager to progress their careers with Swindon.

Midfielder Smith made 32 appearances for the Minstermen last season scoring five goals and established himself as a fans’ favourite. Having previously spent three years with Forest Green Rovers, Smith has signed for his second West Country side for a reported fee of £30,000.

Versatile defender Devera, who can play at right back or centre half, has won Barnet's player of the year award twice, making 200 appearances since coming through the ranks with the Bees in 2005. The 24 year old first scooped the award in 2008 before winning again last campaign, recieving positive reviews in the second half of the season as Barnet successfully fought off the threat of relegation.

Neither of these signings are the experience or names both Di Canio and interim Chairman Jeremy Wray earlier promised. But Swindon are in League Two now. And fans should respect that with League Two football logically comes League Two signings.

2011/12: 10 Things To Look Forward To

With just days until the 2011/12 fixture lists are released, just what is there for fans of Swindon to look forward to having rejoined League Two after a four year absence?

1) Paolo Di Canio: Will the fiery Italian's infamous on-the-field temperament live on in the dugout? Will he be more brainy than brawny now he holds responsibility for the management of a team? How will he take to post-match press conferences with Vic Morgan? All these questions and more will be answered in the coming season having signed an initial two year deal to manage Swindon. The former West Ham striker is inexperienced to say the least, and popular opinion suggests he is merely using Town as a 'stepping stone', but one thing is for certain; Swindon fans are in for a roller coaster ride this coming season.

2) Transfer Rumour Mill: Close season and no tournament in which England can showcase their spectacular levels of mediocrity in means the newspaper's backpages will be filled with one thing and one thing only; transfer gossip. And with Paolo Di Canio keen to bring at least five new faces to the Country Ground, rumours of the wildest nature will be circulating SN1. Oh, and if Di Canio's opening press conference is anything to go by, expect messers Ronaldo and Messi to be arriving shortly ...

3) New Signings: A promised summer rebuild is on the agenda for Swindon so expect an influx of at least five players as Town strive to construct a squad capable of securing an instant return to League One. Key areas that must be addressed include left back and striker positions respectively as Town fans eagerly await each new signing perform the infamous scarf-over-head photo shoot.

4) Pre-Season: For some, pre season offers up pointless friendly games with local, lower league opposition. For others and indeed the majority, it provides the perfect tonic to football fans country-wide feeling at loss without their beloved football clubs and eagerly awaiting August 6th. Expect trialists galore and the odd football tour, as teams and fans alike prepare for the season opening. Already announced for Town are local away games with Cirencester Town and Swindon Supermarine respectively, but with a Di Canio inspired tour of Italy and big-name home friendly in the offing, there's plenty to get excited about.

5) Being A Big Fish In A Small Pond: Without wanting to sound like a Leeds fan, Swindon ARE one of the bigger clubs in League Two. And with that, naturally, everyone will be wanting to beat Town. Expect bigger attendances, bigger away support and a bigger budget as Swindon aim for promotion back to League One at the first attempt.

6) Oxford Home/Away: As rivalries go, it’s rarely mentioned in the same breath as Real-Barca or the Old Firm. But, as with any other clubs in the world, to fans of the teams concerned, it’s the fiercest rivalry they know, the only one that matters. One good thing to come out of Swindon’s relegation to League Two is it means the battle for local bragging rights is back on. Undoubtedly, the biggest rivalry for both Swindon and Oxford, the A420 derby has been a long time coming. Ten years have passed since Oxford dumped Town out of the FA Cup in 2002 despite their lower league status; a result Robins fans will be eagerly hoping to avenge this season.

7) Other Minor Derby Games: Matches against Bristol Rovers have been dramatic in recent years and the only rivalry Town fans have been able to partake in. Now, with the likes of Cheltenham Town and Gillingham in the waiting, supporters will be looking to reignite those age old rivalries that make football what it is.

8) New Away Days: Many a Swindon fan will never have travelled to the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Burton Albion and Morecambe. So naturally, trips to Kingsmeadow, the Pirelli Stadium and the Globe Arena offer an opportunity to tick more of those grounds off as 'visited' as fans strive to complete their football league seventy-two.

9) Increased Media Coverage: Some may think, what with the drop in division and ultimately standard of football on offer, media coverage of Town next season is similarly likely to lessen. However, with the Di Canio circus firmly in town, Swindon will often be the hot topic of conversation with regard to this division.

10) The football: Di Canio has already suggested that, being a winner himself, he'll play to win. Whether he'll adopt the Italian style of football he's most used to remains to be seen but it's sure to be entertaining for Town fans!

Matured Robin Cuthbert Flies The Nest

Arriving during the Summer rebuilding process overseen by Danny Wilson in 2009, Scott Cuthbert was a virtually uknown yet surprisingly welcome addition to a squad that had so majestically seen off the threat of relegation during the 2008/09 season.

Then manager Wilson exploited the club's useful link with Scottish giants Celtic to bring the versatile defender to the County Ground for a reported £100,000 - a move which, after 2009/10's success, looked to have paid dividends.

Born in Alexandria, Cuthbert came through the youth ranks at Celtic Park and captained both the Glasgow giants and Scotland at under-19 level. During five years at Parkhead, the defender was unable to make a breakthrough into the first team, and spent loan spells at Livingston and SPL rivals St Mirren, where he spent the entire 2008/09 season, playing 29 league matches.

With that taste of regular first team action whetting Cuthbert’s appetite for more and following a Summer of speculation, he opted to leave the SPL and move south of the border to join Swindon in July 2009. There he quickly proved he has the kind of pace, strength and presence required instil fear into opposition forwards, becoming an instant fans favourite, thanks to his rock-steady performances and effectiveness in both penalty boxes.

Cuthbert made his Town debut on the opening day of the 2009/10 season at Gillingham, but was then left out of the side until the Carling Cup game at Wolverhampton Wanderers, making an impressive contribution in a match Swindon narrowly lost, before scoring the opener against Southend United at the end of August.

He went on to become one of the first names on Wilson's team sheet throughout the season, forming an impressive central defensive partnership with former captain Gordon Greer - key during Town's successes that season, which included reaching the League One play-off final.

Despite the season's obvious successes, which inlcuded reaching the play-off final and progressing through to the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in two years, the campaign ended in disappointment for Cuthbert and his teammates, losing the aforementioned League One play-off final 1-0 to Millwall.

If Cuthbert's first season with the Robins was anything to go by, surely his (and indeed the club's) second bite of the League One cherry would be, if anything, more successful than the previous campaign's achievements? How wrong pundits and supporters alike were.

So often lost in the centre of defence without the experienced head of Gordon Greer, the Scottish youngster was handed the club's vice-captaincy in August of 2010 in a bit to settle an experienced back four. The move, however, did little to benefit Swindon's fastly sinking ship. By New Year, they were placed in 18th, just outside the relegation zone, with the third worst defensive record in the league.

A disappointing season for Cuthbert ended with relegation for the club; demotion to the Football League's basement division after a season that promised so much. A series of defensive mistakes, most notably at home to Notts County, in which Town saw a 1-0 lead overturned, only added to the Scottish defender's disgruntlement.

Having already played under three managers during his short stay at Swindon, Paolo Di Canio's arrival brought with it the opportunity to play under one of the most gifted footballers ever to grace the Premier League, providing the club took up the option to extend Cuthbert's expiring contract.

However, keen to assess each member of the squad individually and having analysed recordings of last season's matches, no contract offer ever materialised, and he last week joined League One side Leyton Orient on a free transfer.


Cuthbert in action against Leyton Orient,
who he has ironically joined



Cuthbert does, however, leave with the best wishes of the supporters and club alike. He did not, like so many do in the modern game, pioneer the move in the search of more money. He merely saw out the end of his Town deal, showing maturity beyond his years and, pairing this with the decision of Swindon's board not to take up the option to extend his current contract, and has joined the London side as they aim to improve on last season's seventh place finish.