Swindon Town

Before Saturdays game I thought I would l look at Swindon Town. The club has been facing a period of change behind the scenes; a take over for the club is reported as being imminent but has been going on for some time. This has affected manager Paul Sturrock`s ability to enter the transfer market. He has stated that he only has one fit striker for the start of the season.

The Robins have been beset by financial difficulties throughout the club`s history, having been placed into administration twice and also twice fought off winding-up orders from Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise over unpaid tax-bills. The board currently have to make yearly payments of £100,000 to creditors (2% of the yearly turnover), and only managed to begin the 2006-07 season after sourcing £500,000 to pay for players’ wages. The club is campaigning for the redevelopment of the County Ground to help finance the team and a takeover bid by a Fans’ Consortium was launched in December 2005. Sound familiar? The club`s current chairman is ex-jockey Willie Carson!

Paul Sturrock became Swindon`s manager in November 2006, taking the reins after Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet left for Leeds. He managed to guide the Robins to the final automatic promotion slot.

Swindon`s 07/08 squad has not seen too many newcomers to get the fans excited. Sturrock is still building his squad for League One. Well-travelled striker Lee Peacock will be familiar to Cobblers` fans from his time at Bristol City. He has been used as a midfielder in the last season at the County Ground. Sturrock prefers to use his son, Blair, as a striker.

Old boys that have both a common Robins and Cobblers history are Sam Parkin, John Gorman and Colin Calderwood.

Although Paul Sturrock has stated this game is very winnable, the Cobblers really must win these games at home to consolidate their position in this league this season