SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown wants to oversee a fast start to the new League Two season when it gets under way in August.

Brown, who is preparing to start his first full season in charge at the Energy Check County Ground, will see his troops tackle Macclesfield Town on the opening day on Saturday, August 4.

After the Silkmen’s visit, the Wiltshire side also have to face local rivals Forest Green Rovers twice in the opening month in league and Carabao Cup action.

Former Hull City manager Brown says it is crucial Town hit the ground running, and revealed he has a target which he would like to see his team aim for.

“In the first five games, you have to set a target. If you’re anywhere near that target, you’ll be at the right end of the division,” Brown told the Advertiser.

“If you are nowhere near that target, then it will be a slow start and we will have to play catch-up.

“That is the last situation I want to find myself in because, as one of the pre-season favourites, you want to be in the box seat and be in the running.

“You want to be setting the standard and doing all of the things that everyone wants us to be doing.

"But it takes a lot of hard work, planning and preparation, and that is what we are going through at the moment."

After the fixtures were released on Thursday, Brown admits there is a variation in the distances his team will be forced to travel.

With Forest Green being their shortest trip of the campaign, Lincoln City represent a different challenge on the second weekend of the season as that will be one of the longer journeys Town have to make.

Regardless where in the country the fixture is, Brown says it is important his team prepare and perform in the same way.

“Every game is important and every month is important, there is no doubt about that, but you look at the first month and there are two cup games, probably three if we qualify in the Carabao Cup,” said Brown.

“Five league games, that is the important part. Three of them are away from home and two of them are against newly-promoted teams.

“You have local games, to a certain extent, in Forest Green, but then you have long journey to Lincoln.

“Travelling is part and parcel of the game, there is nothing we can do about it.

“How you get there, how you arrive and how you feel when you do are all part of the job."