We have debated about the problems all over forums, twitter and even going onto the player’s twitters’ to find answers that no one seems to have. It has been a continuous circle of the sameexcuses and relegation has hopefully put all these discussions to bed.
League Two awaits us in August, hopefully with an away trip to Oxford United. However, the more likely fixture is away to Morecambe, who by the way, have a newish and nice stadium for the trip. So we look ahead to the 2011/2012 season and a very interesting summer with the possibilities of a new manager and new players.
The Kassam Stadium. Old rivalries will reunite.
The main issue that needs resolving is the Paul Hart saga. Hart was given a tough task and has failed to deliver what was needed. He didn’t have the time to turn a team low on confidence into a side that had to win two games in a row that hadn’t been done since September. However, the fans have made it clear that he just isn’t the man we want or need.
Paul Trollope has been spotted at several games which leads to speculation after he was sackedby Bristol Rovers in 2010. Trollope is a young manager with a connection to the club and his name has popped up a lot with fans split on this potential appointment but I’d be happy to get behind Mr Trollope.
We have to first of all realise who we are when we think about potential managers. Gone are the days of Macari, Ardilles and Hoddle. We aren’t the same club now as we were back in the late 80’s, early 90’s. We are fortunate to have a club on a fine financial footing and the future is what we need to be building for now.
Notice the word building. Instant success can be great,but consolidation is much more important. That is the word that has actually avoided Swindon Town for what seems like its entire history. A young manager needs to be appointed to bring a new era to the club and given, mostimportantly, time. If it wasn’t Trollope that wouldn’t bother me, but just a big name won’t do. Big names come and go; we need a time of consolidating at the club and give people time.
Could we see Hart in Swindon colours next season?
We expect a decision very soon about Paul Hart’s future and it seems like Hart has been given a potential role at the County Ground for next season. Surely after Saturday’s scenes, Fitton can’t have him on board as manager and having him even at the club will ruin some of the atmosphereamongst fans as he won’t have any support. It will be the same as when Malpas when appointed, we’ll wait for something to go wrong to get him out as he wasn’t a popular choice.
As I suggested, Champions is a very realistic aim for the club next season already. We will be the team to beat in League Two, without singing our own praises and that is an enormous challenge to whoever takes over and the players on the pitch. Who is though even going to be at Swindon fromthis season’s team? Many of you may sarcastically say ‘not many I hope!’ but actually, imagine Jonathan Douglas, for example, in League Two.
Douglas will be key in our return to League One.
From doing some research, (from http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/swindon-town/startseite/verein_352.html) I believe the usual first teamers who are under contract are David Lucas, Phil Smith, Kevin Amankwaah, Michael Rose, Paul Caddis, Simon Ferry, Matt Ritchie and David Prutton.
However, Alan Sheehan, Scott Cuthbert, Lescinel Jean Francois, Michael Timlin, Jon Paul McGovern, Vincent Pericard and Jonathan Douglas are all obliged to leave the club if they so wish. Douglas did boost every town fan by stating that he would like to stay but a lot can change in the next few weeks. Several League One clubs will be in contact the Irish midfielder, and they would be silly not to.
It’s hard to predict who will stay and who will go as it depends on offers from other clubs and also guarantees on playing next season. The board will be looking to sign Sheehan, Cuthbert, McGovern and Douglas back up but again, it depends on who they can afford to keep. We have a good core of a league two squad, definitely good enough to get us back up to League One but many good and brave decisions have got to be made this summer.
We still need to sort out the issues from this season, even with relegation, which means two strikers to go with Benyon and reinforcements at the back. Frampton on a permanent deal could be possible and Calvin Andrew in League Two could also be a big help as he has shown his presence in games, such as Huddersfield away, can be a big nuisance to the opposition.
The season is obviously not even over but it feels like it and the pre season has to be done right this time to ensure an immediate return to League One. Fitton will be tested but I trust in the board and feel, plus only hope, that this League Two status for our club will only be temporary.
