Honest Swindon Town manager Paul Sturrock admits he has taken his eye off the ball in the midst of the club's off-the-field turmoil, and said: "I'm kicking myself."

The boss, who marked his one-year anniversary at the County Ground this week, has seen his out-of-form team stutter to two defeats and a draw after a promising start to life in League One.

And Sturrock concedes he has been distracted by the cash-trapped Robins' problems behind the scenes, including a failed takeover bid and the recent transfer embargo slapped on the club.

Sturrock, speaking ahead of this Saturday's FA Cup first round trip to Wycombe Wanderers, said: "I've been here one year but it seems like three!

"It feels a long time since the start of the season - a lot of water has run under the bridge and a lot of politics, which I really believe is draining our football club, have come and gone.

"And I must admit I've been a bit annoyed that a lot of my thoughts have been more about what's happening off the football pitch than what's happening on it.

"I've kicked myself a few times because I've allowed that to happen.

"But I'm fully focused now on what I think we can achieve."

The Swindon boss revealed he has lined up four new signings to help stop the rot when the transfer embargo is lifted, but in the meantime he is setting realistic targets.

Sturrock said: "I think we've got to be realists in this football world.

"Swindon maybe wants to run before it can walk, especially in this league.

"But it would be nice to walk, then jog, then run, and I'd like to slow that process down.

"People need to appreciate we're maybe not the team that they really expected us to be.

"We are in development as a side and the next development stage is to add those two or three players that will take us to the next level.

"Where we finish in the league will be determined in the time frame of this embargo, and who knows how long it will take to be lifted.

"I've got two, three or four players that I've had to put on hold from coming in until we get the embargo green light.

"I'm trying to sign players who will not find the next league up a complete culture shock, or who have tasted it themselves."

The Scotsman appealed to the fans to lower their expectations, and warned there will be plenty more defeats to stomach this term.

He said: "We're all sad about two defeats and a draw in our last three games but in the end that was always going to happen.

"I can assure you we are going to lose a lot more games before the end of the season, and I'd like to emphasise that to the fans.

"We are going to win one, draw one then lose one right until the end of the season - it's going to be one of those kinds of seasons.

"But hopefully if we can just keep on the coat tails of where we are at the minute over the Christmas and New Year period, and be there with that wee carrot, who knows what we can achieve?"

Of the clash with the League Two Chairboys this Saturday, Sturrock added: "They are an excellent cup side who shocked a lot of Premiership teams last season so we know we are in for a game.

"I was surprised they didn't kick on and go up last year, and I've been told we have a dreadful record against them in the cup, so they will be a tough hurdle to overcome."