SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown expects to continue learning from his assistant Neil McDonald, despite having more than two decades of coaching experience himself.

Brown drafted in McDonald as his number two in May following the departure of Brian Horton, who opted to take a different path away from the Energy Check County Ground after spending 10 games on the touchline at Town last season.

Swindon’s new-look coaching staff, which includes Matt Taylor as player-coach, will appear at SN1 for the first time today in Town’s pre-season friendly at home to Championship side West Bromwich Albion.

McDonald spent last season with Irish Premier Division side Limerick before he departed in January to join League One club Scunthorpe United, where he acted as assistant manager to Graham Alexander.

His experience at clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Blackpool and Hull City stands the 52-year-old in good stead ahead of his first League Two campaign.

And Brown expects to learn a lot from the former midfielder, who holds a UEFA Pro-Licence badge.

Brown said: “Neil is a good coach. The players are going to learn from him and Matt Taylor is going to learn from him.

“I’ll still be learning from him too. I’ve been on the training ground with Neil for 15 years, and I know that his experience is something I want to draw upon.

“And likewise, my experience is something he wants to draw upon as well.”

Brown and McDonald’s previous work at Bolton under former England boss Sam Allardyce has granted the Town boss confidence in his new assistant.

And instructing their men on similar wavelengths is key to Brown if his club are to succeed this season.

“I’ve worked with Neil before, and I trust him,” said Brown.

“I know what he’ll be saying to my players will be mirrored by what I’m saying to them.

“We’re very similar in terms of our standards and the style of play, hopefully that opinion and points of view get through.”

Meanwhile, Town have revealed further details of today’s contest against West Brom, which will be split into two 60-minute matches.

The first hour-long game kicks off at 3pm at County Ground and will see the Town first team take on their Baggies counterparts.

The second game will see a young Swindon side take on Albion’s U23 team.

Each game will have a water break on the half-hour mark due to the hot temperatures expected this afternoon and there will be a 15-minute half-time break in-between the two matches.