SWINDON Town’s players are currently in a phase of transition.

When you are a player and the management changes then it is almost like the slate is wiped clean. It is like an amnesty and everyone is given a fresh go.

You will find a lot of the players who were on the periphery or were not fancied by the other manager – for whatever reason – will raise their game.

Everyone is playing for their jerseys again and those that didn’t think they had a chance, now have a chance.

Things might improve short-term. Whether they improve long-term or not depends on the players and the management.

Players do not give up, no player gives up. But if you have got a team that losing then you will have players who are not pulling their weight.

On paper, Swindon look to have a very strong squad, but it just was not happening under Mark Cooper.

They had a lot of injuries but even with the players they had, I looked at the body language of some of them and I would have concerns.

As a footballer you step over the white line and you perform on demand, no excuses. It is no good saying ‘I do not like the manager’. I played for managers I did not like, but my job was to play as well as I can.

Those who pick and choose their managers or pick and choose their games you want to get out as quickly as you can because they will let you down somewhere along the line.

Martin Ling has got to go in and sort that out.

You cannot have people who pick and choose the manager, or pick and choose who they do or do not like. You could have the devil incarnate as your manager, but if he asks you to play that way, you play that way.

I hope players were not picking and choosing their managers, but I commentated on some games and I did have concerns over a few individuals.

Martin will be aware of that, he is not blind. If he can get everybody onside, then great.

I would always be wary of players that think they are bigger than the club, or bigger than the manager.

This player power thing cannot exist.

Players should go out and perform whatever the circumstances, no excuses.