AS THE final month of 2015 creaked into life, Swindon supporters were able to truly get their teeth into the Martin Ling era.

Although Town were left kicking their heels as newly-crowned television stars Salford City gave Hartlepool United a run for their money in the second round of the FA Cup, there was soon plenty to smile about for the County Ground faithful.

Ben Gladwin extended his loan deal with his former club until early January – although he would then go on to join rivals Bristol City in January – and the midfielder was on target during a 2-1 home win over Rochdale before a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury stretched Swindon’s winning run to four matches.

But subsequent losses to Gillingham and Burton, both of whom occupied top-three positions at the time of their victories over Town, brought Swindon back down to earth.

Then, on December 29, the proverbial goalposts were jarringly shifted once again as a shock announcement emanated from the County Ground.

After returning to management for the first time following a sabbatical of two-and-a-half-years, his last spell at Torquay United ending in April 2013, four months after he stepped away to seek treatment for depression, Ling resigned as Town chief, citing health reasons for his departure.

His tenure had lasted just 56 days.

Unlike in October, Swindon chairman Lee Power didn’t descend to the touchline again himself but instead opted to install highly-rated coach Luke Williams as caretaker boss.

A rained-off trip to Port Vale meant that Williams didn’t take charge of a game for seven more days but dramatic victories over Southend United and Crewe Alexandra, which saw 13 goals scored, were enough to convince head honcho Power to give former Brighton & Hove Albion reserve boss the nod until the end of the season.

In front of more than 19,000 fans, Town also drew 1-1 at Sheffield United before seeing out the month with a home loss to play-off chasing Barnsley but off the pitch, as is par for the course for the modern Swindon, there had also been a revolving door policy at the County Ground during the January transfer window.

Henrik Ojamaa had his contract terminated before swiftly signing for FA Wacker Innsbruck in Austria whilst Gladwin, Wes Thomas, Adam El-Abd, Kevin Stewart and Louis Thompson, who would return for another loan spell on the final day of the window, all returned to their parent clubs.

Youth-team product Will Randall was another out of the exit door as he was snapped up by Wolverhampton Wanderers but Town did move to bring in Michael Doughty from QPR, and he would go on to prove a major hit in Wiltshire.