SWINDON Town look set to go on a short tour of Ireland as part of their pre-season schedule, according to manager David Flitcroft.

Speaking to the Advertiser on the first day back at pre-season training today, Flitcroft has said that the arrangements are being finalised for the trip which will see Town take on Waterford, the League of Ireland side owned by Swindon chairman Lee Power, plus another Irish outfit.

No date has been confirmed for the tour but the two games will take place during a four-day period, which looks set to be over the weekend of July 21.

Having seen both Jake Evans and Tom Smith, who both reported to Beversbrook for training today, spend loan periods at Waterford at the tail-end of last season, Flitcroft is keen to see first-hand what opportunities there are for the younger members of his squad.

“We’ve got four games under the belt so we are building that,” he told the Adver.

“I think what we are trying to do is bring it together with a four-day tour to Ireland.

“That gives me a chance to look at Waterford and see what quality and standard are there.

“If we have got young players who might want to go, I’ll know the standard and I’ll understand the logistics surrounding that.

“That’s an important one, if we can get that nailed and then, on the Saturday, try and get one of the top Irish teams to play, which will give us a good competition.”

With Woking announcing a pre-season fixture with Town on Saturday, July 29, earlier today, Swindon now have four fixtures pencilled in and while Flitcroft admits the preparation of the schedule has been less than ideal, he believes the addition of a trip to Ireland will be a real boost.

“I think the tour will be really important. I usually would have had a squad in place, gone away very early and built the system,” he added.

“This way, I’ve never gone away as late, but I think it’s important that we’re going to have to bring 50 per cent of new players to the squad and the later we go, it gives me the opportunity to have more of my squad available, to instil our mindset, mentality and principles of play.”