SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown has expanded his search for a new defender overseas in an effort to bolster his ranks.

Brown has repeatedly stated his desire to bring a new centre-back to Wiltshire and has previously looked at a loan deal from a Championship club.

However, Brown revealed on Monday that a free agent from overseas will be reporting to the club later this week, and a potential transfer could be concluded before Town travel to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s trip to Crawley Town in League Two, Brown also conceded Shrewsbury Town were re-thinking the prospect of allowing winger Abo Eisa to join Swindon on loan.

Brown said: “I have made contact again and we are trying to nudge things on with regards to a Championship centre-half.

“People out there are more aware of us being in the market for a defender. Ben Chorley (chief scout) has gone to two games today (Monday) and I will be going to a game on Wednesday.

“I am hoping, fingers crossed, that something will drop. We have a player coming in on Thursday, which we can give more insight on when we do press again before the Forest Green game.

“It is an international footballer who is out of contract at the moment.

“The supporters are chanting ‘all we need is a centre-half’ – I know that. I am not saying it is not rocket science because it is rocket science at times.

"It does take time for something to fall for you in the transfer window and something to actually happen.

“Fingers crossed, we can get something to drop but it has got to be the right one, it can’t just be anyone.”

Town head to Crawley this evening hunting a third win from their opening four League Two fixtures.

No team is still able to boast a 100 per cent record just over a fortnight into the new campaign, with Swindon only a point off the summit, but Brown says it is much too early to think about what his side are capable of this term.

“I don’t think we are at that stage where we are looking at league tables and starting to get excited about top two or three, or top seven or whatever,” said Brown.

“What I am trying to get across to the players is getting a foothold in the competition. It is a 46-game series and we are only three games into it and we are already talking about managers getting the sack at whatever level.

“It’s crazy, but that is the nature of the beast, unfortunately.

“After one, two, three games, managers are either over-achieving or under-achieving and people aren’t happy. You are a point off the top, yet you are three points off the bottom.

“It is ridiculous to think about it at this moment in time. Wait until after 10, 12 or 15 games – a third of the season is through then and there will be implications from that first 15-game series and that will point us in a certain direction.

“There is a different feel at the moment, but I am delighted to have two wins from three. If that continues over the course of the season, then it can only mean one thing.”