Competition For Places In Di Canio's Midfield

McCormack trains with Town

Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio has followed up Monday's double signing by further bolstering his midfield with the capture of unatached winger Etienne Esajas and Charlton Athletic midfielder Alan McCormack.

Following Monday's arrival of strikers Alan Connell and Mehdi Kerrouche and indeed Tuesday's friendly victory over local side Swindon Supermarine, popular opinion amongst supporters was that Town were potentially just a few signings away from being ready for the upcoming League Two campaign.

And Di Canio has moved to appease said fans by signing up Dutchman Esajas and central midfielder McCormack on two and three-year deals respectively, taking the Summer arrivals list at the County Ground to twelve players.

Pacy winger Esajas arrives on the back of a successful trial. Having featured in the second half of the 5-0 friendly victory over a Marche XI in Italy, scoring one and setting up another, he was given a second chance to impress in Tuesday's friendly with Supermarine, once more being granted game time in the second 45 minute period.

And impress he did with the former Sheffield Wednesday man once more getting his name on the scoresheet as Town romped to a comfortable 4-0 victory against their Non-League opponents. With the game being the first opportunity for Swindon fans to see the new squad in action, it was perhaps even more important for Esajas to gain some recognition and, indeed his constant running at defenders, movement on the ball and in field runs certianly aided his desire to impress.

The winger has pace to burn and, judging by performances in two friendlies thus far, a magnetic pull towards the opposing goal. With his pace, skill and willingness to take player on and shoot central in convincing Di Canio to tie him down to a two-year contract, signing Esajas already looks to be a shrewd piece of business as the rookie manager continues to reshape, reassemble and rebuild a Swindon team on the back of last year's relegation.

Meanwhile, midfielder McCormack has become manager Di Canio's twelth Summer signing after Charlton agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent. He only joined the Addicks last Summer following former club Southend's relegation, though his departure from The Valley has not disappointed Charlton fans.

McCormack's imminent arrival, however, has sparked concerns amongst fans regarding the future of Simon Ferry. His position is central midfield - a position Town now have five players more than capable to play in. And with Ferry seemingly set be overlooked by a third Swindon manager in succession, question marks are rightly being raised with regard to the former Celtic youngster's Swindon future.

Having initialy been signed on a season-long loan deal from the Scottish giants in 2009, Ferry's fantastic performances and indeed the development of a solid central midfield partnership with the recently-departed Jonathan Douglas earned him a permanent transfer to the County Ground last Summer.

But the midfielder found himself overlooked by first Danny Wilson and then Paul Hart, with Douglas, David Prutton and, at times, Michael Timlin in front of him in the pecking order. As a result, the Scot's fitness and focus suffered as he finished the season with just a handful of appearances and Swindon saw themselves relegated.

The Summer departures of Douglas and Prutton have been addressed with the signings of Namibia international and new club captain Oliver Risser and former York City midfielder Jonathan Smith, whilst Timlin has seen his contract extended. Add to that the confirmed arrival of McCormack and competition is for midfield positions is perhaps even tougher than last year, raising concerns about Ferry's future.

Regardless of this, though, competition for places can only be a good thing for supporters. McCormack is by no means guaranteed a starting place and given the appointment of Risser as Captain, Smith's solid Pre-Season form and the experience of both Timlin and, should he stay, Ferry, competition for places is something Swindon's midfield will posess extensively this coming campaign.

Robins Rebuild Edges Nearer Completion

Alan Connell signs on

Having lost out in the race to sign Dover Athletic striker Adam Birchall, who rejected offers from both Swindon and AFC Wimbledon to sign for their League Two rivals Gillingham, Town manager Paolo Di Canio has dipped into the Non-League market once more to sign forward Alan Connell. 

 

Despite having a bid accepted for Birchall, the former Arsenal striker linked up with his former manager and long-standing friend Andy Hessenthaler at Gillingham, citing the locality and geography as his reasoning behind such a decision.

Following the departures of trialist strikers Leon Knight and Christian Cesaretti and Town seemingly missing out on the signings of Hugo Bargas and a 'mystery' Brazilian striker, Birchall's decision frustrated fans eager for Di Canio to add to Swindon's front line - even more for a side that struggled for goals last season.

But in a swift response, the Italian has once more identified and this time secured the signature of a striker with goalscoring pedigree at Non-League level. Grimsby Town striker Connell arrives at the County Ground for a fee believed to be in the region of £115,000 including a sell-on clause, after passing an extensive medical assessment and signing a two-year deal on Saturday.

Before signing for Non-League side Grimsby, Connell made over 200 Football League appearances for the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Brentford and Hereford in spells that were either hampered by injury or saw him deployed to the left win position - reason, perhaps, for a goalscoring record that rarely flattered to decieve.

At Blundell Park, however, Connell shone, featuring in 46 league games and scoring an impressive 25 goals, only missing out on the division's golden boot award to Crawley Town's Matt Tubbs. Add to this his a haul of four cup goals and collection of various prizes at Grimsby's annual awards night, the striker quite rightly became one of the hottest properties in lower league football close season.

Having already rejected bids from unnamed League One, League Two and Conference clubs, Swindon's undisclosed bid was accepted last week and the relevant paperwork and legalities completed today with Connell set to feature in the team's Pre-Season friendly with local side Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, as Di Canio strives to make his mark on the team, a fourth Italian looks likely to become his ninth signing of a busy Summer. Alessandro Cibocchi joined the the Pre-Season training camp in Italy and seemingly impressed in an 11-0 thrashing of a local Norcia XI. However, the left back didn't feature in the second friendly against Marche XI which suggested a deal wouldn't be on the cards.

Defender Cibocchi, like another of Town's Italian recruits Alberto Comazzi, has spent the entirety of his career in the Italian lower leagues, featuring most recently for Serie B side Portosummaga. He has reportedly signed a two-year contract and will now provide Callum Kennedy, previously Swindon's only remaining left back, following the Summer departures of Michael Rose and Alan Sheehan respectively, with apt and suitable competition.

Algerian signing Mehdi Kerrouche



Cibocchi's signing is also likely to coinside with that of another forward, in the form of Algerian Mehdi Kerrouche. Most recently contracted to United Arab Emirates team Al Oruba, the striker's arrival means Swindon are potentially a further forward and a winger away from being ready for the looming League Two season - an improvement, surely, on last year's rushed transfer activity that cost Town so dearly.

Dover And Out As Birchall Is Linked To Swindon

Swindon's latest transfer
target; Adam Birchall

Adam Birchall today became the latest forward to make Paolo Di Canio's shortlist of targets, with supporters immediately casting similarities between him and Swindon's last striking acquisition from Non-League - Charlie Austin.

Having fallen out of love with the game, after 10 years at Arsenal as a trainee and disappointing spells at Mansfield Town and Barnet, Birchall was at his lowest point when the then Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler approached him. Austin similarly found himself in the lower leagues having been released by Reading as a youngster and likewise professed his lack of love for football at the time.

You've probably heard a few stories like Birchall's before. A talented young player fails to make the grade at a Premier League club then drifts around the lower leagues for a few seasons showing sporadic glimpses of his potential as his reputation slowly fades, before his professional career peters out - usually long before a footballer's usual retirement age.

The early part of the striker's story certainly followed that script. Birchall began his footballing life as an Arsenal apprentice, playing in the same youth sides as Cesc Fabregas, David Bentley and Gael Clichy, but has since seen his career head south - and not just in the geographical sense.

During his ten seasons at Arsenal, Birchall represented England at youth and Wales at Under-21 levels. As he made the transition to men's football and the reserves, though, a broken foot cost him six months and his place in the pecking order.

After leaving the Gunners in 2005 without making a senior appearance, Birchall performed far more fitfully during two seasons apiece at Mansfield Town and Barnet. He left the Bees, his last full-time club, in 2009 admitting he was "fed up with football".

What is different, not to mention inspiring, about Birchall is what happened next. He thought about walking away from the game altogether that summer but, on the advice of Hessenthaler, decided to sign for Dover Athletic and turn semi-pro instead.

Moving to a club close to his hometown of Maidstone and dropping two levels down the football pyramid seemed a sensible way to rediscover his love for football and life in general, but a much less obvious way of reviving his career too. A two-season return of 64 goals in 78 games shows that the gamble well and truly paid off.



Birchall celebrates
scoring against Town

Whilst Swindon fans will remember him for his giant-killing exploits with Barnet - in which his goal dumped the Robins out of the third round of the FA Cup in 2008 - Birchall's FA Cup heroics continued in Non-League football. The striker made the Cup competition his own last season, scoring an impressive eleven-goal haul, inlcuding a stunner against Hessenthaler's current team Gillingham and a double strike against Aldershot in rounds one and two - a vital contribution towards Dover's best ever FA Cup run.

Having identified Town's strikeforce as a major weakness within the Swindon squad ahead of the upcoming League Two Campaign, Di Canio's move for Birchall is likely to appease supporters frustrated by a lack of transfer activity - not least because the signing and indeed Birchall's own career strike so many similarities with those of one-time Non-League hotshot, Charlie Austin.

Austin's own career began with Reading who, like Arsenal, have a renowned youth academy. However, progression from youth team product to first team player was cut short after five years as the Royals released him, with Austin being labelled as "too short". He subsequently played for local teams Thatcham Town, Kintbury Rangers and his hometown side of Hungerford Town.

Moving with his family to Bournemouth, he then switched to nearby semi-professional Wessex League Premier Division team Poole Town while also working as a bricklayer. In the season of 2008–09, Austin scored 46 goals in 48 appearances for Poole in all competitions - a record even Birchall would be envious of.

Having missed out on signing for Bournemouth because of their infamous transfer embargo, Austin transferred to Swindon on the basis of a long-standing friendship with then Town chairman Andrew Fitton. Despite initially struggling to make the first team, the striker scored on his debut and continued his goal-scoring exploits, racking up 31 goals in 54 games during his sixteenth month stay in Town.

Birchall's previous struggles in the Football League and Austin's story are likely to serve him as a reminder of the rewards of perserverance, self-belief and determination. And with his own career sharing so many similarities with Charlie Austin's, Swindon fans will be hoping the impact he has, his transition to League football and indeed his goal-scoring form bares a smiliar, if not better, resemblance should a move come into fruition.

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.