Football Season Review

It has been a desperate season for Swindon Town, whose celebrations after lifting the League 2 title last summer feel like a lifetime ago now. The club finds itself in the midst of a crisis under the ownership of Lee Power, who claims the global Covid-19 pandemic has left it on the brink of collapse. Both he and the club have been charged by the F.A. for breaching regulations on ownership and funding. Manager Richie Wellens claimed poor recruitment last summer left the side in trouble and they made a poor start to life in League 1. They failed to replace the goals lost after striker Eoin Doyle’s departure and Wellens soon departed for Salford City, although he also failed to see the season out there. Power appointed his friend John Sheridan as successor and a frantic January transfer window saw wholesale changes to the squad. The occasional good result would paper over the cracks and having already threatened to resign once, he fell on his sword following a drubbing at relegation rivals AFC Wimbledon in April. Relegation was confirmed shortly afterwards. Akin Odimayo, Anthony Grant, Jack Payne, Brett Pitman and Scott Twine were the only players to emerge from the season with any credit and they may all leave for pastures new in the summer. There won’t be too many takers for a job that requires building a new squad with the club in financial chaos and the future looks rather bleak.

Player of the Season: Jack Payne