THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: There's no need to panic (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

THE SAM MORSHEAD COLUMN: There's no need to panic

6:00am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport

Adver chief sports writer Sam Morshead

IN THESE situations, it’s good to take time and read everything through, listen to every last word and consider all you’ve heard.

We’re all very good at jumping to conclusions based on a nugget of information, myself included, and as followers of Swindon Town we are all a little bit touchy when the word administration lingers in the room.

I guess we’re all still treating the bruises left by two almighty beatings in the early years of this century, the mention of the dreaded A-word brings back unwanted memories and swathes of anger we thought we’d learnt to restrain.

As if you didn’t realise, we in the media and in the press enjoy capturing your attention and for Town fans any reminder of what life was like in the 2000-2002 era and the threat posed in 2007 instantly provokes a reaction akin to an electric shock.

In reality, and quite eloquently outlined by Andrew Black, Nick Watkins and Paolo Di Canio yesterday, we are far from the abyss. Currently we’re not even a short-haul flight away.

However, administration remains a possibility. It has been discussed within the club and could be seen as a method to wipe clean debts owed to existing investors, excluding Mr Black, should the need arise. We all sincerely hope it does not - and until the time it rears its ugly head perhaps it is best to try to focus elsewhere.

Some have questioned Mr Black’s decision, and he has received criticism for choosing to make his exit at a time where Swindon Town appear to be on the up.

Mr Black wants out. It’s his money, fair enough. In his five-year association with the club he’s been the saviour, cash cow and rock of the Robins and without him we almost certainly would not be discussing the possibility of promotion to the Championship today.

Without him, many of us would still be getting used to navigating the non-league road-map. Without him, we wouldn’t have had Di Canio, a League Two title, memorable nights against Stoke and Wigan, two trips to Wembley, some of the most scintillating football seen at the County Ground, a perfect playing surface and enough positive experiences to fill an ordinary fan’s lifetime.

In this column in recent weeks I’ve expressed a desire that, if and when Mr Black leaves, he does so responsibly and leaves the club in good hands and in good health. The steps are being taken to ensure that he does exactly that.

A personal investment of £10million, most of which he must have known he was never going to see again, is a remarkable gesture by a man who is neither a fan of football nor Swindon Town.

He may be the reluctant owner, but he has certainly been a mighty fine one.