Swindon Town are understood to be one of several clubs to have submitted a bid for a Championship midfielder, who has now signed for former manager Michael Flynn.
The Robins are undergoing a squad transformation after suffering their lowest ever league finish. They saw several big-names including Charlie Austin, Frazer Blake-Tracy and Udoka Godwin-Malife amongst others leave the club this summer.
Now former Lincoln City manager Mark Kennedy is at the helm, the club have been able to bring in ten players to date in an active window. Notable additions include, Will Wright, Ollie Clarke, Rosaire Longelo, Grant Hall and Tunmise Sobowale.
The club are still eyeing further additions with an emphasis on creativity after failing to break down stubborn opposition in their pre-season friendly fixtures.
Robins beat the Robins
Cheltenham Town were able to convince highly rated Cardiff City midfielder Joel Colwill that their club presents the best opportunity for his development going forwards, with the 19-year-old signing on for a season-long-loan deal.
According to Darren Witcoop, Swindon were rivalling the League Two side’s offer but failed to bring him to the newly renamed The Nigel Eady County Ground.
Speaking to club media Colwill added:
“I’m buzzing to be here, Cheltenham’s a big Club and I just can’t wait to get started.
“It’s my first time away from Cardiff but I feel like I’m ready to play first-team football, I’m really confident in my game at the minute and I want to take that into men’s football.
“I would say I’m a box-to-box eight. I like to get up and down, work hard without the ball and I like to drive forward with it.”
Whilst former Swindon manager Michael Flynn acknowledged the interest from other parties.
“We’re really happy to get Joel here. We know there was a lot of interest in him so we’re delighted to have him with us for the season.
“It’s great to build a relationship with a club like Cardiff City as well and we’d like to thank them in trusting us with Joel.
“He’s a top player with a lot of potential and we’re really looking forward to working with him and hope he can play a big part for us.”
What does this mean for Swindon Town?
In all honestly, likely very little. It is the nature of the fast paced EFL transfer window, for every ten offers you send out you may get four back who are interested then two who logistically it can happen. It is likely that Colwill was part of a long list of potential targets for his position and having missed out, will move onto the next.
The only time this becomes an issue is when players and clubs are consistently turning you down, but after signing 10 players this summer, it appears as though that isn’t the case.