GARY Roberts has leant his support to Darren Ward and Tommy Miller as the pair take temporary charge of Swindon Town ahead of the weekend clash with Preston.

Following the resignation of Paolo Di Canio and his backroom team this week, Swindon have been left without a manager for the visit of North End in League One.

With the takeover of the Robins set to be completed later today, the incoming board will soon begin the process of appointing a new boss, but until Di Canio’s successor is found Miller and Ward - who have more than 900 league appearances between them - will have the reins.

A statement issued by the club yesterday read: “Swindon Town Football Club have today placed Tommy Miller and Darren Ward in temporary charge of first team affairs.

“A goalkeeping coach and fitness coach will be brought in to assist the duo on a temporary basis.

“This initiative has the full support of the prospective new owners, allowing them the opportunity to assess all of the applications that have been received in relation to the vacant managerial position and take a considered view for the long-term benefit of the Club.”

Roberts thinks the duo will do a sterling job in the interim, saying: “They’ve got a lot of respect in the dressing room, the gaffer respected them, the boys have got a lot of respect, they’ve had good careers and they’ve got knowledge of the game.

“I know they’ve got the respect of the dressing room and they’ve probably got the respect of the fans.

“If they can take us through to Saturday and get us three points then that’s great.”

The winger was disappointed to see Di Canio leave but in adversity he believes the Swindon squad have shown their true quality and gritty resolve.

“The gaffer has made his decision to leave the club and we’ve got to be professional. We had to go about our business (at Tranmere on Tuesday night), we travelled there, we stuck together, we dug in and it’s not an easy place to go - even though they had a couple of players out.

“It wasn’t a nice night and we could have easily folded and gone under but I think we’ve shown over the last couple of months that we’ve got a good set of lads here, good character, we dug in and got the result we deserved.

“He (Di Canio) will be missed. You can see how close we are as a system. I know training is quite long and things are different at this club compared to others but you look at our goal difference, for example, and the gaffer had us drilled.”

Meanwhile, Ward took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to pledge his commitment to his role as joint caretaker boss.

He wrote: “Thanks for the great support and both Tommy and I will give our all to keep moving the club forwards.”