SWINDON Town boss Phil Brown believes new goalkeeping coach Steve Mildenhall should be rubbing his hands with glee at the quality he has to work with.

Former Town stopper Mildenhall, who made 38 appearances for the club between 1995 and 2001, made his return to the club earlier this week after being announced as Dean Thornton’s successor on Brown’s coaching staff.

Lawrence Vigouroux has staked his claim for the number one spot at the Energy Check County Ground during pre-season, impressing upon his return to the club after a loan spell away at League of Ireland side Waterford last season.

Experienced new recruit Luke McCormick lurks in the background and youngster Will Henry is also eager to impress and Brown says Mildenhall has a healthy amount of talent and competition to work with.

“He can only be impressed with the goalkeeper (Vigouroux) we have between the sticks and the experience of the guy (McCormick) we have behind him,” said Brown.

“The guy behind him wants to work with Vigouroux, toe-to-toe in competition.

“He certainly has something to work with where Vigouroux is concerned, because his distribution is superb. He can pass the ball for fun.

“Now we just need to install that ‘though shall not pass’ mentality into the players who are in front of him.

“Clean sheets win you games, and winning games wins you titles.”

Brown is planning for Town’s final pre-season friendly this evening before the start of the new League Two season on Saturday, August 4 when Macclesfield Town head to Wiltshire.

Town face local Southern League side Swindon Supermarine in their annual meeting at the Webbswood Stadium tomorrow night, looking to end a run of four pre-season losses in a row.

After early wins over Cirencester Town and Melksham Town, they have since been beaten by Chippenham Town, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth as well as in a behind-close-doors game against Portuguese giants Benfica.

After a turbulent summer in terms of results so far, Brown says there is nothing to worry about as he is happy with what he’s seen from his troops.

“In terms of results, pre-season has been indifferent,” said Brown.

“We are trying to piece together a jigsaw. We had 12 players leave and eight come in, that isn’t easy when you have that amount of change in personnel.

“That’s including the backroom staff as well. There are lots of things to think about, lots to improve on and lots of things to aim about.”