SWINDON TOWN: Roberts backs caretaker duo

6:00am Thursday 21st February 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Gary Roberts Gary Roberts

GARY Roberts has leant his support to Darren Ward and Tommy Miller as the pair take temporary charge of Swindon Town ahead of the weekend clash with Preston.

Following the resignation of Paolo Di Canio and his backroom team this week, Swindon have been left without a manager for the visit of North End in League One.

With the takeover of the Robins set to be completed later today, the incoming board will soon begin the process of appointing a new boss, but until Di Canio’s successor is found Miller and Ward - who have more than 900 league appearances between them - will have the reins.

A statement issued by the club yesterday read: “Swindon Town Football Club have today placed Tommy Miller and Darren Ward in temporary charge of first team affairs.

“A goalkeeping coach and fitness coach will be brought in to assist the duo on a temporary basis.

“This initiative has the full support of the prospective new owners, allowing them the opportunity to assess all of the applications that have been received in relation to the vacant managerial position and take a considered view for the long-term benefit of the Club.”

Roberts thinks the duo will do a sterling job in the interim, saying: “They’ve got a lot of respect in the dressing room, the gaffer respected them, the boys have got a lot of respect, they’ve had good careers and they’ve got knowledge of the game.

“I know they’ve got the respect of the dressing room and they’ve probably got the respect of the fans.

“If they can take us through to Saturday and get us three points then that’s great.”

The winger was disappointed to see Di Canio leave but in adversity he believes the Swindon squad have shown their true quality and gritty resolve.

“The gaffer has made his decision to leave the club and we’ve got to be professional. We had to go about our business (at Tranmere on Tuesday night), we travelled there, we stuck together, we dug in and it’s not an easy place to go - even though they had a couple of players out.

“It wasn’t a nice night and we could have easily folded and gone under but I think we’ve shown over the last couple of months that we’ve got a good set of lads here, good character, we dug in and got the result we deserved.

“He (Di Canio) will be missed. You can see how close we are as a system. I know training is quite long and things are different at this club compared to others but you look at our goal difference, for example, and the gaffer had us drilled.”

Meanwhile, Ward took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to pledge his commitment to his role as joint caretaker boss.

He wrote: “Thanks for the great support and both Tommy and I will give our all to keep moving the club forwards.”

Comments(26)

DarrenSTFCRomain says...
6:50am Thu 21 Feb 13

STFC
WE ARE MILLERS RED AND WHITE ARMY..

STFC
WE ARE WARDS RED AND WHITE ARMY.....

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Cardiff Red says...
7:22am Thu 21 Feb 13

Good luck lads. We're all behind you. Now lets go and get three points on Saturday!!! COYR

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RED-MERLIN says...
7:30am Thu 21 Feb 13

what a team, playing for each other, all hands to the pumps.just need fraser in to help with the goal keepers & we'll be fine. who needs technical staff, when we have a team that want to win. good luck lads, onwards & upwards. (shame the board are not so commited)

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super reds says...
7:42am Thu 21 Feb 13

'Quote from above' With the takeover of the Robins set to be completed later today,

Mmmmm. Haven't heard that 1 before,

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smirg kcab says...
7:59am Thu 21 Feb 13

I'm very excited for these two and a great gesture to these two guys,
Better than bring a deadbeat in a panic.

The whole town fan base will follow and support you both 100%
And if I don't work out Saturday one of you need to have the balls and say see you all at wanbourgh 5.30a.m Sunday morning.
Onwards and upwards
After all you a pitting your wits against a manager who gets sacked from every job he gets in larry Grayson

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Since 1950 says...
8:10am Thu 21 Feb 13

The boys deserve our full support and backing on Saturday and going foreword. Let's get another 10k in and show them solidarity.

The players are the only ones to come out of this total shambolic mess with their heads held high.

YOU are the fans Red & White army.

COYR!

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Another view says...
8:44am Thu 21 Feb 13

Agree with all of the above. Let's support all the guys who rolled up their sleeves and did a job on Tuesday night freed from the shackles.

Regarding young Miles, I can't understand why he's hardly had game time, then is suddenly thrown in at the deep end on a heavy pitch. Di Canio's way was to bring him on (occassionally) as the opposition were tiring, yet a half fit youngster was risked from the start when the pressure was really on.

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Terryswin says...
8:48am Thu 21 Feb 13

town end to sing

wards red white army

south stand to sing

millers red & white army

on Saturday,,,,,lets get behind the lads

do we all agree.........COYR

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peatmoor pirate says...
8:52am Thu 21 Feb 13

Since 1950 wrote:
The boys deserve our full support and backing on Saturday and going foreword. Let's get another 10k in and show them solidarity.

The players are the only ones to come out of this total shambolic mess with their heads held high.

YOU are the fans Red & White army.

COYR!
Sadly as the prices have gone back up to £25 it wont happen. If you do the maths, the extra fans at the Hartlepool match would have more than made up the deficit of ticket reduction. An extra 2000@ £15 = £30,000. Ticket loss from the 2500 who paid £15 instead of £25 = £25,000 (remember 5,500 are season tiocket holders. That means an extra £5,000 from tickets plus whatever 10,000 spent on merchandise and catering instead of what 8,000 would have.
Perhaps the new owners could consider this

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peatmoor pirate says...
8:54am Thu 21 Feb 13

peatmoor pirate wrote:
Since 1950 wrote:
The boys deserve our full support and backing on Saturday and going foreword. Let's get another 10k in and show them solidarity.

The players are the only ones to come out of this total shambolic mess with their heads held high.

YOU are the fans Red & White army.

COYR!
Sadly as the prices have gone back up to £25 it wont happen. If you do the maths, the extra fans at the Hartlepool match would have more than made up the deficit of ticket reduction. An extra 2000@ £15 = £30,000. Ticket loss from the 2500 who paid £15 instead of £25 = £25,000 (remember 5,500 are season tiocket holders. That means an extra £5,000 from tickets plus whatever 10,000 spent on merchandise and catering instead of what 8,000 would have.
Perhaps the new owners could consider this
Plus I meant to say, absolutely behind Miller and Ward. Who's to say that wont make a great fist of it.

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smirg kcab says...
8:58am Thu 21 Feb 13

Terryswin wrote:
town end to sing

wards red white army

south stand to sing

millers red & white army

on Saturday,,,,,lets get behind the lads

do we all agree.........COYR
We are all behind you Darren lol
O and u

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super reds says...
9:03am Thu 21 Feb 13

peatmoor pirate wrote:
Since 1950 wrote:
The boys deserve our full support and backing on Saturday and going foreword. Let's get another 10k in and show them solidarity.

The players are the only ones to come out of this total shambolic mess with their heads held high.

YOU are the fans Red & White army.

COYR!
Sadly as the prices have gone back up to £25 it wont happen. If you do the maths, the extra fans at the Hartlepool match would have more than made up the deficit of ticket reduction. An extra 2000@ £15 = £30,000. Ticket loss from the 2500 who paid £15 instead of £25 = £25,000 (remember 5,500 are season tiocket holders. That means an extra £5,000 from tickets plus whatever 10,000 spent on merchandise and catering instead of what 8,000 would have.
Perhaps the new owners could consider this
Do we actually get anything from the catering, thought it was an outside company that did it?? May be wrong

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TheDukeOfBanbury says...
9:06am Thu 21 Feb 13

Siege mentality Saturday.

There won't be detailed dossiers on the opposition this time though and we will miss the detailed analysis done on the opposition.
More blood and thunder this Saturday and a noisy crowd and turn up in numbers.......wait, in my dreams.

The fans Tuesday night showed passion and we out-sung Tranmere from start to finish and lifted the team.
More for Saturday.

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VinnyPericard says...
9:16am Thu 21 Feb 13

Lets hope whoever comes in doesn't let standards drop and keeps the high standards Paolo set.

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Since 1950 says...
9:27am Thu 21 Feb 13

TheDukeOfBanbury wrote:
Siege mentality Saturday. There won't be detailed dossiers on the opposition this time though and we will miss the detailed analysis done on the opposition. More blood and thunder this Saturday and a noisy crowd and turn up in numbers.......wait, in my dreams. The fans Tuesday night showed passion and we out-sung Tranmere from start to finish and lifted the team. More for Saturday.
And there's our Achillies heel. Who's doing the research into the opposition? Not to mention the small squad which will be no doubt subject to injury and suspensions in the future.

Still 'Back the Boys' though.

COYR!

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The Rev W Pitt says...
9:38am Thu 21 Feb 13

Bit of a kick in the goolies for Paul Bodin.

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Davethered says...
9:49am Thu 21 Feb 13

This combination may just work , obviously with the stick that Paul Bodin has taken from DiCanio over the past year has hurt him hard and he didn't want to take over the reigns . So if these two lads can pull it off , who knows what might happen for them in the future , right place at the right time springs to mind .
Hope buckle doesn't come here , made a right hash of it at the gas , Butchers put his name in the hat , wouldn't mind seeing him and Taylor combination . Loads of experience and a steady influence around the camp. Time for change , just hope they get it right , top of the league , half the jobs done already just need someone in to put the final touches to the season

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hertz says...
10:28am Thu 21 Feb 13

Hey PDC and his crew have no axe to grind with our players , so I see no reason why our deputies can't call to get whatever advise they need from the outgoing manager and his team , any research would have been done before today .My glass is half full for next two games .
Lets GRIND out a result for MILLER , on Wards and up Wards ,

More Cider Nurse :0) COYR

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stfctrowbridgepaul says...
10:30am Thu 21 Feb 13

Will they both play Saturday or will one of them be on the bench viewing from the sidelines maybe miller with ferry replacing him or will bodin be on the bench over seeing things mr digby

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smirg kcab says...
10:56am Thu 21 Feb 13

Mays
sky sports monthly accolade goes to

DARREN WARD

• fans player of the month
• players player of the month
• manager of the month
• player of the month
• Eco warrior of the month

Onwards and upwards

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Red Nookie Bear says...
11:00am Thu 21 Feb 13

DarrenSTFCRomain wrote:
STFC
WE ARE MILLERS RED AND WHITE ARMY..

STFC
WE ARE WARDS RED AND WHITE ARMY.....
How About...............
....................
..........

We are "MillWards" Red 'N' White Army - just a thought for the time being

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hertz says...
11:04am Thu 21 Feb 13

We are MillWard , Nobody likes us

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mickry says...
11:23am Thu 21 Feb 13

A workers' cooperative at last, and what workers they are! Red Army! Red Army!
Mick

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Oxon-Red says...
11:46am Thu 21 Feb 13

Good Luck to Darren and Tommy.

Just make sure you don't substitue Wes after 20 minutes :-)

COYMR

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Oxon-Red says...
11:52am Thu 21 Feb 13

Just been on the Town Official Website and looked at the Vacancies. Apparently there are none :-)

COYMR

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umpcah says...
5:49pm Thu 21 Feb 13

Red Nookie Bear wrote:
DarrenSTFCRomain wrote:
STFC
WE ARE MILLERS RED AND WHITE ARMY..

STFC
WE ARE WARDS RED AND WHITE ARMY.....
How About...............

....................

..........

We are "MillWards" Red 'N' White Army - just a thought for the time being
That`s rubbish i.m.o. WE ARE SWINDON`S RED & WHITE ARMY seems more suitable for the time being - i.m.o. of course !

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