SWINDON Town chief executive Mark Devlin says the time has come for the club to give something back after being overwhelmed by the generosity of fans.

Supporters who continue to pledge goods to the cash-strapped club have boosted Town's pre-season preparations.

With just a week until Swin-don's Division Two campaign kicks off against Barnsley, the County Ground is looking shipshape once more.

Hundreds of fans responded to last month's Advertiser appeal and sent goods ranging from pots of emulsion and brushes to Post-it notes and pencils.

The club's precarious financial predicament meant the County Ground had not seen a lick of paint in nine years.

But in addition to gleaming terraces, a new bar has been built in the South Stand using materials donated to the club.

Supporter Mike McQueen of Old Town personified what chief executive Mark Devlin described as overwhelming kind-hearted community spirit by providing four new corner flags and a plas-ma TV screen.

Football magazine Four Four Two has supplied new goal nets, Gareth and Cherry Jones donated an ink-jet printer and telephones, while Neil Buckley of the Kings Royal Hussars (Wiltshire Tank Regiment) handed over IT equipment. Funds were so tight that before Derek Belcher, managing director of Handy Garden Machinery in Hyde Road loaned an industrial mower, the hallowed pitch had to be cut using a domestic lawnmower.

Although donations have now slowed down, the total amount of equipment given is estimated at more than £15,000 and Mr Devlin, 39, poured cold water on those who have scoffed at the club's cap-in-hand approached.

He said: "It's not a bad thing what we have been doing. All the people who have helped wanted to and we will use the money we have saved on other things.

"I don't care if we get a bit of stick for what we have done. I expect around 90 per cent of Foot-ball League clubs could do with this kind of support.

"Hopefully now we can give something back because the fans have had a tough time over the past few years."

The club was saved from liquidation in April after the High Court agreed to an unprecedented second spell of administration.

The recent collapse of ITV Digital and the promise of TV money has also hit the club hard.