Paul Bodin has given a damning indictment of Swindon Town's transfer policy as he prepares to launch a serious bid to become the club's next full-time manager.
Bodin will be in charge of the team for the final match of a dreadful season when they take their leave of npower League One at Tranmere's Rovers' Prenton Park today.
Bodin, who took charge also last week, is convinced he can make the step up from youth-team boss, possibly with his old friend and Swindon team-mate Martin Ling as his assistant. But while he awaits news of his fate from the club's board, Bodin has taken the opportunity to look back on what went wrong.
Bodin said: "We lost key players and replaced them with players who were not as good. The players who played well last season did not play well this year and that resulted in a lack of confidence.
"When you lose players of the calibre of Simon Cox, Billy Paynter and Charlie Austin in a short space of time, that is 60 odd goals no longer there, so it was a massive cut from the team. Goalscorers are at a premium, and maybe we could have held on to Charlie and offered Billy a new contract last summer.
"These are things which go through your mind when you are in a position like ours. We got value for money for Cox and Austin, but nothing for Billy. You need someone who can get you 15 to 20 goals, you need wide players who can get five or ten, a centre midfield player to get five or seven, and you need centre-backs to score from set-pieces.
"It has all culminated in relegation and we are the worst team in the league. We have just produced our worst home record in 110 years, and those are facts the boys have to take on board.''
Bodin admitted he does not want to make too much fuss about wanting the manager's job, in case Swindon appoint from outside and the new man might see him as a threat.
If Swindon decide Bodin lacks the necessary experience to take the club straight back up from League Two, he said was happy to return to his old role with the youth team. Meanwhile, the job is his for the time being and he intends to use the Tranmere match to give products of his youth team the chance to prove they can form the basis of next year's first team.
His son, Billy, will get another chance after making his debut last week against Oldham Athletic, and added to the squad are teenagers Jordan Pavett, Matt Clarke and Harry Grant.
Bodin said:'' The whole youth department benefits from young players coming through. Not only the staff, but all younger players too. It makes the whole club thrive.''
Entertainment Asia Simon Barker Arsenal Blackburn Rovers West Ham United
No comments:
Post a Comment