Swindon Town

SWINDON Town are delighted to confirm the appointment of Alan McLoughlin as the club’s new Under-18s manager.

The former Town midfielder, who made 136 appearances at SN1 between 1986 and 1990 and scored against Sunderland in the 1990 Division One Play-Off final at Wembley, has stepped into the shoes of Scott Lindsey, who departed the County Ground over the summer.

Speaking to swindontownfc.co.uk, McLoughlin says that he is excited by the opportunity to work with the current crop of scholars.

“I’m absolutely delighted with being offered the opportunity to take on what I think are an exciting group of players and follow in the footsteps of some very good coaches,” he said. “Certainly from the time when I first came to Swindon back in the 1980s when John Trollope was the coach right through to Scott Lindsey who has just left the boys in a very good place technically so it’s been an easy transition. Obviously being a former Swindon player with over 100 games under my belt, to still be in the building, working in football and hopefully passing on the knowledge that I have to the players is great.

“Hopefully I can make it an environment they enjoy to come into and train but there has to be hard work put in too. You don’t get anywhere in life without working hard and grafting for it so things are slightly different under myself compared to Scott – it always is when there is a changeover of coach. The players have got to get used to the way I think, the way I work and that will come in time particularly with the second year scholars who have had a year working with Scott. I already know the first years from the Under-16s group.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited about the role and thankful to the club for giving me the opportunity. I’ve spoken at length with Luke (Williams), Seamus (Brady), Ross (Embleton) and all the staff on what the expectations are and what they want from the scholars. I’m excited to work with a really good group staff too – it’s important we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet.”