COLIN TODD wants to sign eight new players before Town return for pre-season training in July.

His summer clear-out started yesterday when he told six players they no longer had a future at the club.

Now his radical shake-up of the squad is set to continue with a major influx of new talent.

Within five days of taking over the Swindon hot seat Todd had to decide on the futures of nine out of contract players.

However, his decision to release Philippe Cuervo, Scott Leitch, Frank Talia and Alan Flanagan was overshadowed by the news that Alan Reeves and Gareth Hall would be put on the transfer list.

Todd has offered Adam Willis, Mark Robinson, Sol Davis, Lee Collins and Steve Cowe new contracts, but Reeves and Hall can go for free.

The clearout leaves Todd with enough room to rebuild, his main target to bring in a new keeper.

I think I need eight new players, eight fresh faces, he said. If I felt those guys released had something to offer at the football club then I would not have lost them but this game of management is a lethal game and I needed to make decisions.

I am making inroads to bring in those eight new players here and I want them all by July 6 when we return for pre-season training.

Todd said he had been open and honest with both Reeves and Hall, who signed on free transfers in 1998.

They have been told they do not figure in my plans and are available on free transfers, he said. I have seen them in recent games but, obviously, one equation that comes into it as well is the wage structures. This football club has been relegated and I had to take that into account.

On top of that I felt they were not what I wanted. I wanted to be honest with them and I had to be blunt.

He said the club had to look forward.

If you want to make progress then it is important that I, as the manager, am in the driving seat, he said. Many people might be surprised by my decisions but I am not here to be popular. I am here to take this club forward.

I am here to make decisions and if you don't make strong decisions then you will not survive in this game.

n Player reaction: Page 39

COLIN TODD wants to sign eight new players before Town return for pre-season training in July.

His summer clear-out started yesterday when he told six players they no longer had a future at the club.

Now his radical shake-up of the squad is set to continue with a major influx of new talent.

Within five days of taking over the Swindon hot seat Todd had to decide on the futures of nine out of contract players.

However, his decision to release Philippe Cuervo, Scott Leitch, Frank Talia and Alan Flanagan was overshadowed by the news that Alan Reeves and Gareth Hall would be put on the transfer list.

Todd has offered Adam Willis, Mark Robinson, Sol Davis, Lee Collins and Steve Cowe new contracts, but Reeves and Hall can go for free.

The clearout leaves Todd with enough room to rebuild, his main target to bring in a new keeper.

I think I need eight new players, eight fresh faces, he said. If I felt those guys released had something to offer at the football club then I would not have lost them but this game of management is a lethal game and I needed to make decisions.

I am making inroads to bring in those eight new players here and I want them all by July 6 when we return for pre-season training.

Todd said he had been open and honest with both Reeves and Hall, who signed on free transfers in 1998.

They have been told they do not figure in my plans and are available on free transfers, he said. I have seen them in recent games but, obviously, one equation that comes into it as well is the wage structures. This football club has been relegated and I had to take that into account.

On top of that I felt they were not what I wanted. I wanted to be honest with them and I had to be blunt.

He said the club had to look forward.

If you want to make progress then it is important that I, as the manager, am in the driving seat, he said. Many people might be surprised by my decisions but I am not here to be popular. I am here to take this club forward.

I am here to make decisions and if you don't make strong decisions then you will not survive in this game.

Player reaction: Page 39