Swindon v Torquay - Capital One Cup

It's my first trip of the season to the County Ground this evening to cover the Robins versus the Gulls and I'd just like to apologise in advance for any naff jokes about feathers flying in my report!

Looking in from the outside during the summer break, the changes at Swindon have been intriguing. In fact from the moment the new owners took over late last season, I've wondered what is going on and I feel for the fans.

I know that most clubs have their ups and downs, but Town seem to lurch from crisis to potential crisis every year - with a little taste of success thrown in now and again just to give the supporters false hope.

I guess that most fans of most clubs could argue that they suffer in the same way, but even when times were good under di Canio recently, I still had my concerns. So many players were signed or passed through the club that surely it didn't make fiscal sense. One ex-player described the Italian's transfer policy to me as 'revolving door recruitment'.

Di Canio got away with it though and looks like he may have taken the same philosophy to Sunderland.

What Swindon really need is a big cash injection from a reputable source to help the club move forward. I'm afraid that a tie against Torquay isn't going to help in this regard and I wonder whether the fixture will draw in enough punters to make it worthwhile turning the lights on.

Torquay Alan Knill is one of the best young managers in the game and will bring a team including former Swindon strikers Billy Bodin - son of former Town favourite and current coach Paul - and Elliot Benyon. How many times having players returned to haunt the old clubs? Not what Swindon need this evening.

Knill was delighted with his team's draw at home to Wimbledon on the opening day and while Robins caretaker boss Mark Cooper oversaw a 1-0 defeat at Posh, I still expect the home side to have more than enough for their League Two opponents.

A plumb second round draw against a Premier League outfit would be useful for both teams of course, but I can't help but feel that the Swindon directors will be chewing their nails a little more than their opposite numbers tonight.