Living here in Swindon, I get to hear quite a lot of what goes on in the County Ground - most of which I ignore because, well, I don't really care about Swindon Town FC. Their dire performance in the Wembley final was probably seen as amusing or even deserved to some of us, especially following the Wade Elliott debacle here in November, but I was rather surprised, as I would have expected that in THAT game, above all others, they would have tried their best - it was as if they didn't care. I have found out why; Apparently, from a VERY trustworthy and reliable source, their best players (Luongo, Gladwin, Fodringam) were told that they would NOT be at the club next season. The rest of their squad was informed at the same time that they would lose their places the first team if the club achieved promotion to the Championship. All this on the DAY BEFORE they were expected to play Preston at Wembley. The management of the club effectively deliberately threw their chances. Now, I know many of you will simply be pleased that our local rivals are hurting, but to me that attitude by a club's management and directors shows a disgusting lack of respect for genuine fans who thought that their club's management shared their promotion aspirations and paid good money to see them roll over at Wembley. I would be FURIOUS - off my head even, if something similar happened at BS3. There also begs the question; why ever, on this earth, would any club want NOT to be promoted? Some of the fans here say that the club couldn't afford to be promoted, but surely there is more money available in the Championship than in L1? Aren't there parachute payments, like in the Prem?
It does seem a bit strange that the team is being broken up. Williams already gone, Frodingham and Luongo off to QPR. I assume all the loanees will not be there next season, albeit replaced by another batch. Rumours of Cooper going to Sheff Wed as assistant. If what you have said has even a semblance of truth, then it would not surprise me if their fan base shrinks significantly from this August. A sad example of how not to run a football club!
It's actually Gladwin and Luongo who are off to join JET at QPR. Foderingham is being linked with Reading - and US! My source is a good friend who I used to play football with, who actually works for STFC and I trust him totally. He told me he was there when it happened.
It would explain their performance. You're right about another thing too.. as far as I'm concerned its both funny and well deserved!
This is the same team that deliberately fielding weakened teams towards the end of the season giving their opponents unfair advantages over a host of other clubs at the top and bottom of the table They are a national disgrace. Send them out of the league
Don't think it would affect most of their fan base, 98% of them can't read so they won't know what's going on. So 2% is only about 200 of their fan base
This is something else that doesn't make sense. Playing weakened squad suggests that you are building for the final And actually want to WIN it - except once they get there, deliberately throwing it. Wierd - and I am not canvassing sympathy for Swindon - just recon that there is some sort of underhand stuff going on that is probably illegal and defrauded some genuine fans.
