SWINDON Town arrived in Portugal at the start of their pre-season training camp last night without a full-time manager as the search for the next Robins boss continues.

Les Ferdinand remained the bookmakers’ favourite for the role overnight, while Exeter boss Paul Tisdale – who is understood to have met with Town on at least two occasions – is also high in the betting.

Swindon will spend a week in the Algarve town of Carvoeiro working on their fitness and shape and getting to know one another on a personal level as the Wiltshire outfit prepare for the start of the League One season on August 3.

Caretaker manager Mark Cooper, who is believed to be under serious consideration for the permanent position at the County Ground, will take charge of affairs on the Iberian Peninsular on a seven-day tour which is understood to include a friendly against a Tottenham development squad side next Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Robins continue their transfer business on home soil – with Spurs prospect Ryan Mason expected to formally join the club on loan this week. Mason, who has previously spent time at Millwall, Yeovil and Doncaster, is set to pen a season-long loan deal in SN1.

Town are also pursuing former Reading striker Simon Church, who was released by the Royals following their relegation from the Premier League.

Church is understood to be happy to make the step down to League One, although wages could be a stumbling block. He is believed to have been on roughly £12,000 a week at the Madejski Stadium.

The future of Swindon forward James Collins is also uncertain following reports over the weekend that Hibernian had had a £200,000 bid for his services accepted.

Collins, who is also believed to be on the radars of Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United, scored 18 goals for Town last term. Shrewsbury Town would be due 20 per cent of any profit made by the Robins should the 22-year-old be sold.