OLLY Lancashire will relish wearing the captain’s armband when he leads his Swindon Town side out at Brunton Park tomorrow.

The 28-year-old has been announced as the club skipper for the upcoming League Two campaign, a role he is familiar with having captained Rochdale and Southampton’s U18s side before that.

It was Keith Hill, the manager that David Flitcroft worked under at Barnsley, who gave Lancashire the responsibility of leading Dale back in 2013, as he stepped in to replace injured Peter Cavanagh at Spotland, before being handed the armband permanently at the start of the 2014-15 campaign following Cavanagh’s departure from the club.

Lancashire went on to have an injury-plagued season before departing last summer for Shrewsbury Town, a move he has since admitted he regretted, but after speaking to former manager Hill, he was keen to head to Wiltshire and join up with Flitcroft’s revolution.

Lancashire, who signed a two-year contract, has been rewarded for his performances on and off the pitch during pre-season which he admits has come as a surprise to him.

“I’m delighted to be given the armband,” he said.

“I’m very happy to get it and it isn’t something that I expected when I first signed. It is something that I’ve done before and it is a role that I enjoy.

“There are quite a few lads here who it could have gone to and I’m sure they will play that role as well.

“My role will be to look after the lads in training and on a matchday and it seems a pretty good group to captain.

“It is just making sure that everyone is on board with what the gaffer wants to do and make sure they buy into his plans.

“I’ll be making sure that everyone is pushing in the same direction to achieve our goals this season.”

James Dunne will assist Lancashire in his role as vice-captain and the midfielder is looking forward to aiding the club’s younger players in his new role.

“It is a great honour. There are quite a few of the boys who have got more experience than me but I’m glad to have been given the chance to be vice-captain and I’m looking forward to it,” said Dunne.

“I see my role as helping the young lads. I’ve played in the Football League for six plus years so I know what it is like and I’ve been where the young lads are.

“It can be quite hard sometimes when you are first breaking into the team so hopefully I can help the young lads.

“I’ll be there to help Olly as well.”