SWINDON Shock head coach David Colclough sees no reason why his side can’t compete for promotion ahead of the National League Division Four season.

Shock, who travel to Exeter on the opening day this Saturday (4.15pm tip-off), go into the game on the back of a nine-point win over Woking in the National Cup.

Colclough was disappointed that his side’s play-off ambitions weren’t realised last term, but believes his side can go one better this year.

“I think we could win it all. We should be promoted to Division Three at the end of the year. The toughest competition we’ll have will be Bristol Flyers,” said the Swindon chief. “We had the ability to win it last year, but we just didn’t show up on certain games which cost us. They’re definitely more committed this year, everyone seems more energised, we just need to work together and try to win this thing.”

It is Exeter’s debut season in the National League, with Colclough pondering what kind of team his side will come up against.

Despite also losing a couple of their taller players, the Swindon coach believes his team have other advantages to play on.

“We are much smaller this year, we had two guys who were about 6’7 but they have moved on so we are smaller and thinner, but much quicker and faster this year.

“Although we lost the height we have more speed, it causes other teams trouble. We have two power forwards who can play under the hoop, but that is the one element we don’t have “We are a hard-working team, we are an experienced team a lot of the players are mid to late twenties, we are more of a savvy team.

“We are still looking for someone to play that (hoop) role, we think one of our former players will come back and play that role.

“This will be their (Exeter’s) first time in National League. We’ve played them before but it’s the first time we are playing them in the National League so we don’t know what we are dealing with.”