Swindon will look to hand new head coach Mike Panaho a winning start when they make the trip to Grove tomorrow in South West East One.

As the new season kicks off, the Greenbridge Road side have seen former Cinderford and Lydney number eight step up from forwards coach to the top job following the departure of Sean Lynn over the summer.

And skipper Mike Thompson, while sad to see Lynn leave, has been enjoying the new lease of life the Kiwi has injected into the club.

“Lynny was amazing for us,” Thompson told said. “He did a great job and we are sad to see him go.

“Mike has stepped up he is looking for us to try and play a more expansive game.

“Something which he has also brought into training is putting the emphasis more on the players and what they want to get out of the session – it is making us all think a lot.”

With Lynn leaving Greenbridge Road, Swindon have also seen a number of the Hartpurt College students that the Welshman brought with him.

However, the club have managed to offset that by seeing the return of Cyprus international Cameron Brown from local rivals Chippenham, while Jack Badminton and Dave Cox are also back at the club after taking some time out.

Tom Mannion is also back in training after missing the majority of last season following a knee operation.

After a season of inconsistency last term, Thompson, who is in his second season as captain, wants the team to build on their finish of last season and push for the top four.

Meanwhile, Alan Low’s Royal Wootton Bassett side kick off their season with a trip to Gloucester where they will face Old Centralians.