LLOYD Sam will not be part of Swindon Town’s squad this season after manager Phil Brown confirmed to the Advertiser that he decided to release the Ghanaian international.

Sam, 33, had been training with the Town squad since the first day of pre-season on June 25, and was the only remaining trialist to make it to Spain for the club’s warm-weather training camp.

Despite spending almost three weeks at Town, Brown confirmed his decision after Saturday’s friendly against West Bromwich Albion at the County Ground.

The Town boss pointed towards promising youngster Scott Twine for his reasoning behind Sam’s departure, adding that he believes Twine offers more than Sam in a three-man attacking unit.

The Town boss told the Advertiser: “I’m going to say no to Lloyd Sam, the reason why is down to Scott Twine.

“Scott is having a very good pre-season and could be the answer to one of our advanced positions in a 4-3-3 formation. That’s where I was looking at Lloyd Sam, but I think Scott is probably a little bit ahead of him.

“And if I’m talking about a teenager being ahead of a senior professional, then that shows you what I and the backroom staff think of him.”

Twine was granted his first start in a Swindon shirt back in April in Town’s mid-week home fixture against Yeovil.

The teenager impressed many and received a standing ovation when substituted in the closing moments of the game, in which Town were eventually pegged back to a frustrating 2-2 draw.

Having spent four months with Twine, who last year enjoyed a successful loan spell with Mark Collier at Chippenham Town, Brown is now starting to develop a great understanding of the youngster’s character.

And all the positive signs are there for the Swindon-born forward to develop a strong future, according to the County Ground chief.

He said: “I think Scott Twine has a great future ahead of him.

“The character of the lad stands out, and I witnessed a bit more of his character when he was hanging out with the senior players when we were in Spain.

“That was of good benefit for me – going away and living on top of each other for five days.

“It’s important that the younger players are comfortable in and around the senior professionals and I think Scott is.

“I think it’s also important that the senior professionals trust the young lads with the ball, and I think they do at this football club.

“And it’s up to the young player to do something with the ball, and Scott has more than impressed me in the last two or three weeks – and he did at the end of last season as well.”