SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown says adopting the hard work and endeavour shown by Coventry City in the League Two play-off final will stand his men in good stead ahead of next season.

The Sky Blues earned promotion from the fourth tier after defeating Exeter City at Wembley Stadium 3-1 on Bank Holiday Monday.

And Brown admired the Sky Blues’ hard work, adding Town typify Mark Robins’ team as a big club in a small division.

“You’ve got a lot of hard work, and it’s been a long season when you get to 49-plus games and you’re going into the second half of that game to earn promotion,” said Brown.

“It’s a really tough season for them.

“But they were successful in the long run and they showed their success by taking over 35,000 to Wembley.

"I know there are one or two clubs in the second division that can do that. I would class ourselves as one of them.

“Whether I want to go through the play-offs or earn automatic promotion next year, let’s answer that question as we come into the latter stages of the league.

“There’s a lot of hard work to do, it’s great to see the rewards of hard work. And you have to tip your hat to the manager, backroom staff and players of Coventry City.

“We congratulate that, and we’d like to emulate it and follow them into the higher division.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work and planning to do to emulate that.”

Meanwhile, preparations for the new season continue for Brown after he secured a pre-season friendly with Championship club West Bromwich Albion at the Energy Check County Ground.

Darren Moore’s men finished five points short of safety in the Premier League last season despite a strong late run which saw them defeat teams including Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

And Brown, who was once in charge of Moore during his time at Derby County, says the Baggies will provide a good early test for his men.

He said: “They’ve unfortunately gone down but the announcement of Darren (Moore) as the man to take charge will make it an interesting game.

“West Brom fans will want to come to the game to see what type of football and what type of players they’re going to have next year.

“Darren is a good friend, I look forward to welcoming him and his team.

“It’s one of them where you’re bothered about performances and fitness levels at that time of the season.

“Hopefully when that time does come around, we should have three, four or five new faces in the camp.”