Football Season Guide

It has been a hard summer for Swindon Town following relegation back to League Two having spent four years in League One. They finished in 22nd place in the table, six points from safety, and it came as no surprise when head coach Luke Williams left the club just days later. They had an approach for Steve Evans rejected by Mansfield Town before appointing former Bury manager David Flitcroft as Williams’ successor in early June. Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood left the club as sporting director ten days later and Flitcroft will be hoping to bring some much needed stability to the County Ground as the Robins look to make an immediate return to League One. He has been dealt a series of blows during the close season having lost influential defenders Nathan Thompson and Raphael Rossi-Branco to Portsmouth and Boavista respectively. Yaser Kasim opted to join Northampton Town whilst striker Jonathan Obika made the controversial decision to sign for bitter local rivals Oxford United after turning down the offer of a new contract. Flitcroft will be pleased to have held onto goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux who was outstanding between the sticks last season and John Goddard who was a key figure. Full-backs, Ben Purkiss and Chris Hussey, plus defender Oliver Lancashire all bring League One experience to the club. Amine Linganzi and Donal McDermott will supply some graft and creativity after signing this summer. There is also plenty of hope pinned on 6"5 striker Harry Smith who has joined on a season-long loan from Millwall. Flitcroft is still looking to strengthen his squad, particularly in attack, and will have to deal with high expectations in this part of Wiltshire. They will be one of the bigger clubs in League Two this season with a strong supporters' base and ought to be challenging for the play-off places.