ALAN McCormack says Swindon Town need a win against Bury tonight to hit their points target for the first three games after the departure of Paolo Di Canio.

Since the Italian quit the County Ground last Monday, Town have won 3-1 at Tranmere and been held 1-1 at home by Preston - meaning their seven-point goal can only be achieved by victory over the struggling Shakers.

Given the circumstances it would be a fantastic haul for the Robins and could even send them back to the League One summit, depending on the result in Sheffield United’s encounter with Leyton Orient.

“A lot of us sat on Monday and said ‘we’ve got three very tough games coming up’. Preston we knew wouldn’t be easy one bit, Tranmere we knew wouldn’t be easy,” said McCormack.

“We gave ourselves a target of seven out of nine points so we’re still on target if we win on Tuesday. But we’ve got to put in another big performance and continue to take it in blocks of two or three games at a time.

“We need to set ourselves targets and goals and if we can reach them or even get close I think we have got a great chance of winning this league.”

Town are hoping to bring in a coach to work alongside caretaker managers Darren Ward and Tommy Miller, and McCormack thinks that is an important move for the club to make.

However, the Swindon captain has called for clearly defined roles should a new face arrive to help out with training and tactics on a matchday.

“For training definitely but when it comes to the game, Wardy and Tommy have got the final say,” he said.

“People have got to be very careful that, just because we get someone in, it doesn’t mean they’re calling the shots. The person that does come in, if we do bring someone in, has got to be careful that they don’t think they’re calling the shots because Darren and Tommy are on the pitch.

“The final say does get left with them.”

For now, it is expected that youth academy coach and former Hereford manager Jamie Pitman will provide the extra support on the touchline and McCormack was delighted with his input before the clash with Preston.

“Jamie I thought was brilliant. Before the game he had information on all their players telling us individually what players are like, what strikers are like,” he said.

“Jamie’s been there, he’s been in the dugout managing a team so he knows what players need to know and once you give them enough information it’s up to the players to go out there and do it – I don’t think you need anyone else.”