Swindon Town are delighted to announce the appointment of John McGreal as our new First Team Manager. John has signed a two-year contract at the club keeping him at the County Ground until Summer 2023.
Born in Liverpool, John began his playing career at local club Tranmere Rovers, where he made 233 appearances in all competitions.
Having spent nearly ten years at Prenton Park, McGreal signed for Ipswich Town in the Summer of 1999.
Making his debut at the beginning of the 1999/00 season, the defender played forty times in all competitions that campaign helping the Tractor Boys to promotion to the Premier League alongside Charlton Athletic and Manchester City. The Suffolk side went up via the play-offs, beating Barnsley 4-2 at the Wembley.
His first goal for the club came in the third match of the following season in a 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
In 2004, John signed for Burnley on a three-year deal under now Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill. During his time with the Clarets, he amassed more one hundred appearances over three seasons.
Following his playing days, John obtained his UEFA B Licence back in the Ipswich area with guidance from ex-teammate Jim Magilton.
In 2009, his coaching career started as he joined Colchester United’s Academy as a professional development coach. This lead to his appointment as joint-U18’s manager with Wayne Brown.
When Colchester were relegated to League Two in 2016, McGreal took over as manager of The U’s, replacing Kevin Keen.
He would remain in Essex for four years taking charge of two hundred and three matches, winning seventy six of those.
Upon signing his contract at SN1, John said:
“I’m absolutely delighted! With the relegation this season, it’s a club I look upon in League Two as a League One club and that’s our aim this season to try and get the club back to where it should be.”
“It’s Swindon Town! That alone makes you want to apply for the job. I’m sure there were numerous applicants and I’m happy to get my hands on it. There’s a lot of work to be done, a lot of players we need to bring in and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
Director of football, Paul Jewell said:
“We’re really pleased with the appointment. There were a lot of good candidates who applied for the job.”
“We wanted someone who was hungry and here to prove a point. The club needs some positivity at the moment and I’m sure John will bring that.”
“John has the experience at this level, he’s young and he’s got good ideas and hopefully he can be an appointment that has a positive effect on us.”
Everyone at the club looks forward to working with John and we believe he is the right man to guide us back up to League One.
