DAN THE FAN: Nasty surprise at Gigg Lane (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

DAN THE FAN: Nasty surprise at Gigg Lane

2:35pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in Football

JAMES Collins' fantastic goal last Saturday was enough to earn Town all the points at Gigg Lane, and maintain our impressive away record this season.

Town have now collected 11 points on the road, compared to nine that we’ve earned at the County Ground.

But instead of talking about another away win on Saturday night, Paolo Di Canio shocked fans with the news that we are under another transfer embargo.

If any fans know about financial issues at a football club, it's Swindon Town followers.

We’ve been through administration twice, lots of failed takeover bids and just a few hours away from liquidation.

But thankfully this recent issue is nothing to worry about compared to problems of the past.

The Financial Fair Play rules state League One clubs must limit their wage and fee bill to 65 per cent of their turnover, and Town have gone around 1.5% over that figure.

After a tribunal demanded we pay a combined fee of £340,000 for James Collins and Troy Archibald-Henville.

The chairman Jeremy Wray came straight out and reassured fans it would be sorted soon, with board meetings planned for this week.

When Paolo broke the news, it sounded worse than it actually was. Maybe it was lost in translation slightly, but I can see why the manager might be a little concerned.

From his point of view he wants freedom, to sign players without restrictions, but at the moment his squad is deep enough to cover in most positions.

The best example of that would be a player of Aden Flint’s caliber being able to come into the first team, and making a big impact alongside Darren Ward on Saturday.

I was pleased to see Paolo coming out with some reasons to why John Bostock isn’t getting a look in this season.

“He’s a talented player, fantastic quality technically but in this moment he does not understand how to play with his teammates and for his teammates – he plays for himself”

I understand where Di Canio is coming from after watching him away at Gillingham last season. He does like to run with the ball, and take on the defender instead of trying to find a teammate.

But when you see Federico Bessone starting at left midfield, instead of giving Bostock a chance, it makes you wonder even with some of his flaws, I’d prefer Bostock in that position.

On Saturday we welcome Town back to the County Ground and League One newcomers and strugglers Coventry City.

Meetings between the two clubs have been very rare over the past 44 years; in fact we’ve only played each other three times since 1968.

The last time the Sky Blues rocked up in Swindon was 2001 in the F.A Cup 3rd round, when the visitors were a Premier League side.

Nearly 14,500 people were at the County Ground to see Town defeated 2-0, thanks to goals from Craig Bellamy and Mustapha Hadji.

Unfortunately I don’t think we will even come close to that number of people at the County Ground this Saturday, but I’m sure we will at the end of the month when Premier League side Aston Villa visit.

Hopefully Gary Roberts will be able to return to the first team after his very noticeable absence, Alan McCormack will still be a doubt, but we’ve got great cover in Archibald-Henville and Flint.

We will be without Andy Williams due to injury but once again Paolo will have quality to call upon to partner Collins up front in Paul Benson or Adam Rooney.

With Coventry earning their first home win last week under new boss Mark Robins their confidence will be renewed.

But with Town underperforming in our last home game, I’m sure the players will be determined to show the fans the same form that helped us beat Crawley and MK Dons, and take the club higher up League One.

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