LEIGH Bedwell thinks Swindon Town’s training camp in Portugal is already showing signs of helping the Robins’ young squad come together ahead of the new League One campaign.

Swindon are staying at Hotel Tivoli in the Algarve town of Carvoeiro for a week, working on fitness and shape and becoming better acquainted with one another before the new term kicks off on August 3.

A little over 12 months ago, Paolo Di Canio took his Town team to Lake Garda in Italy for 12 days of high-intensity training which left his players with little time for personal bonding.

Bedwell was part of that squad and, just a matter of hours into his stay on the Iberian Peninsular, he has already stated the vast difference in atmosphere between tours.

He told the Advertiser: “We got to the hotel at about 11-ish, came in, went straight to our rooms and unpacked. It’s a slight improvement from last year’s facilities. It feels a lot more homely and a little bit more relaxed.

“There are a few families so it doesn’t feel so much like a camp as such, it feels like there is more togetherness and a bit more of a family feel among the lads. It’s just a nicer environment to be around.

“We’ve had breakfast altogether at the tables, which was good, and people have been coming across and speaking to us which is nice. There’s a nice atmosphere around.”

Not only is the feel of the venue different but the Swindon roll call has changed almost beyond recognition in the space of a year.

With James Collins, Jay McEveley, Alan Navarro, Paul Caddis, Luke Rooney and Paul Benson all left back in Wiltshire for a variety of reasons, only seven of the 17 contracted players who are part of the Town set-up in the Algarve went to Lake Garda 12 months ago.

Furthermore, only two - in Darren Ward and Andy Williams - are over the age of 23.

“It’s unbelievable, the difference in people around us, looking after us,” said Bedwell. “There’s much more of a family feel so you’ve got the older lads looking out for the younger ones. Everyone’s a lot more together already.

“Willo at 26 is an old veteran. There’s Willo, Wardy and Wes surprisingly as the figureheads in the team. They’re the more mature ones - even Wes being young has got so much more experience of travelling away and being away with England.

“He can pass that down to the other younger lads, even the ones younger than me.”

No official explanation has yet been forthcoming over why the six senior players stayed behind in England - although Collins is believed to be close to a move away from the County Ground, Navarro and McEveley are dealing with injuries and Caddis’ future remains unclear following his failure to agree to a transfer to Blackpool.

Bedwell is keen for the various issues to be sorted as soon as possible to allow him and his teammates to concentrate on their league campaign.

He said: “It’s a disappointment because we’re all friends back at the club so it’s disappointing they’re not here, but obviously they’re not here for a reason so hopefully that gets sorted out one way or another soon enough.

“We need a more settled environment and once that is sorted it will make it a lot easier for everyone to look ahead to the season, once there’s a settled squad in our mind.”