Danny Wilson out Paul Hart In –Robin’s Choice

I’m afraid I’m not one of those people who see Danny Wilson’s resignation as a cause for celebration for Swindon.

No wins in two months and so the writing was on the wall for Wilson though and he has said:

“I am bitterly disappointed to be leaving, but I know football is a results driven game, and unfortunately in the past two months the results have just not been good enough.”

But, for me, the problems at the County Ground lie higher up the food chain and possibly with the club’s finances - or lack of them.

As far as I am aware, Wilson didn’t negotiate contracts and so when Billy Paynter’s contract was allowed to run down and their leading marksman walked out of the door as a free agent at the end of last season.

When Charlie Austin and Sean Morrison – two of the brightest young prospects the club has had for many a year – were sold for what I consider to be peanuts in January, who allowed them to go? Wilson or the board?

And the money he was given to replace all three players. How much was forthcoming?

Wilson got lucky when Simon Cox was sold to West Brom two summers ago because hard working Paynter stepped up to the plate and started banging them in. He also proved he had a good eye for a player by playing up the prolific Austin from the Wessex League.

Apparently Charlie was spotted by one of the directors (according to one of the directors), but Wilson still had to agree to put him out on the park.

Look back further to the sale of Simon Cox. Sold for decent money and replaced on the cheap with Austin. But there are only so many bargains like Austin to be had and for me the investment in the squad just hasn’t been what it needed to be to build on last year’s excellent season.

Finishing as losing play-off finalists was more than most Robins’ fans had expected the previous August having just survived in League One the season before and also lost Cox.

Wilson showed what a good football man he is by getting them to Wembley and Swindon fans shouldn’t forget that.

The club just didn’t seem to want to take the financial risk needed to take the next step up to the Championship.

Then again, maybe – in these uncertain economic times – the board’s caution is well founded. Look at the state Plymouth are in. Perhaps it’s better to be a solvent club bouncing between Leagues One and Two than chance your arm by aiming higher.

It’s too easy to attack directors for not ploughing their personal wealth into something as unstable as a football club – how many of us would remortgage our homes to lend the club money which we may not ever see again? But if you can’t match the big spenders, it’s better to come out and say so.

Paul Hart has been appointed to keep Swindon up and is another very experienced coach, but whether he has enough time – or a strong enough squad – remains to be seen.

Everyone needs to pull together for the good of the club now; players, management, directors and fans. It’s not too late, but the scenario whereby Oxford end up swapping divisions with them looks a very real possibility as well.