Swindon Town chairman Lee Power has already spoken of a clean slate for the 2017/18 season, but with 13 players out of contract come June 30 and seven loan players returning to their clubs, that might be a statement of the obvious. Adver sports chief sports writer MATTHEW EDWARDS looks at who is out of contract and the probability of them being here next season.
Signed: July 2007
A player who many fans would say bleeds Swindon Town, however, even he has endured an up and down time of late, due to a hamstring injury that left him in tears at Wembley, which has continued to hamper him, as well as other knocks along the way. Walking around the County Ground pitch on Saturday with a protective boot on his right foot was surely his final act in SN1.
Chances of staying: 2
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill
Signed: July 2015
Having been released by Arsenal, Ormonde-Ottewill headed to Swindon full of promise to fulfil a career that had started so brightly. However, he was unable to shift the style of football that years of youth team action had taught him and never truly adapted to life in professional football. While certain games showed glimmers of the talented prospect he could be, they were too few and far between and marred by activities off the pitch.
Chances of staying: 1
Yaser Kasim
Signed: August 2013
The ‘Iraqi Pirlo’ as he was once dubbed has become a shadow of his former self as he has watched talented team-mates around him be sold and move on to better things while his long-talked about move from the County Ground never came to fruition. Talks of moves to Premiership clearly turned his head and this season he has fallen out of favour, even with close friend Luke Williams, and will need to start afresh in the summer.
Chances of staying: 0
Jonathan Obika
Signed: September 2014
Another who looks set for the exit door after refusing to sign an extension to his deal last summer. The burly forward has won over many of the Town faithful during his three seasons at the club. However, while a willing servant and happy to do his bit in any role, injuries have also blighted his time at the County and has only scored 28 goals in all competitions as a result.
Chances of staying: 0
Jordan Stewart
Signed: August 2015
It’s been well documented the troubles the young Northern Irish striker had following his £55,000 move from Glentoran, with the then 20-year-old seemingly being hung out to dry for failing to settle and sent to Grimsby. Stewart had looked to address his issues in the summer and started the season strongly before a knee injury scuppered his return and he has been restricted to development games and the season came to an end.
Chances of staying: 3
Jermaine Hylton
Signed: January 2015
Another plunge into the non-league to purchase the highly-rated striker at the time from Redditch, but much like the approach to bring him to the County Ground, his time at Swindon has not been as successful as was hoped. Hylton has struggled to secure a decent run in the first team, resulting in a loan move to Guiseley earlier this term, which also failed to inspire. Hylton’s frustrations at lack of game time boiled over at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium, when he left in a taxi, having not been chosen in the matchday squad and has not had a runout since.
Chances of staying: 1
Anton Rodgers
Signed: July 2014
Has unfortunately become a panto figure during his time at the club, with him being a player that fans enjoy to berate. While some of it is warranted, there is no doubt that there is talent in the 24-year-old shown by his range of passing and some sublime free-kicks. Having signed a new two-year deal in 2015, it is unclear whether he has done enough to earn another deal this summer.
Chances of staying: 5
Bradley Barry
Signed: August 2015
Having been named players’ player of the season last year, a lot was expected of Barry to build on a first year where he featured more than even he would have anticipated. However, the 22-year-old has failed to nail down the wing-back role as his own this season, a victim of changing systems and the arrival of Fankaty Dabo. Has a year option on his contract that is likely to be taken up.
Chances of staying: 9
Raphael Branco
Signed: July 2013
A central defender who has split opinion during his four seasons at the club, but one thing that can’t be questioned is his commitment to the cause. Arguably his best season in a Town shirt, which saw him ending the campaign with the captain’s armband in Nathan Thompson’s absence. His future will depend on the deal that is put on the table.
Chances of staying: 7
Ellis Iandolo
Signed: July 2015
A player brought in for the future but his performances when called on made him hard to ignore and was starting to find some decent form, including a wonder goal against Luton Town in the EFL Trophy, before injury struck. Took some time to recover but still one with a bright future ahead of him if managed correctly and also has a year option on his contract.
Chances of staying: 10
Jamie Sendles-White
Signed: February 2016
Struggled to break into the side after joining last January but broke in towards the end of the campaign as he got his chance filling in for injuries and suspensions. With a full pre-season under his belt, and Raphael Branco missing the start of the season through injury, Sendles-White looked like a new signing at the start of this season but a cruel knee injury against Bury curtailed his season in September. Not been offered a new deal yet but, as Luke Williams says, it doesn’t mean he won’t be.
Chances of staying: 7
Jake Evans
Signed: April 2016
One of Town’s academy products who failed to break into the first team this season, handed one start in the EFL Trophy, before being sent on loan to Lee Power’s Waterford side. A midfielder by trade, but with Town’s depth in that position, was tested at right-back this season both for the first team and in development games to give him another option. Unsure if he has done enough to earn a new deal but certainly through no fault of his own.
Chances of staying: 5
Tom Smith
Signed: July 2016
Another to come through the academy setup at the club, and has had more chances to impress in the side than Jake Evans. Fans have taken to him, with his work rate one of his likeable traits. Has also impressed during his time at Waterford. With so little to start with next season, it would seem foolish to let him go as well.
Chances of staying: 7
WHO’S LEFT: John Gooddard (2019), Lawrence Vigouroux (2019), Conor Thomas (2019), Dion Conroy (2019) Jordan Young (2019), Luke Norris (2019), Jesse Starkey (2018), Will Henry (2018).
RETURNING LOANEES: Charlie Colkett (Chelsea), Fankaty Dabo (Chelsea), Islam Feruz (Chelsea), Nicky Ajose (Charlton Athletic), Ben Gladwin (Queens Park Rangers), Lloyd Jones (Liverpool), Rohan Ince (Brighton).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel