PHIL Brown insists he has inherited a squad that should be challenging at the top of the League Two table after being formally unveiled as Swindon Town's new manager at the Energy Check County Ground this afternoon.

The former Hull City and Southend boss has immediately added to his defensive options after the signing of free agent Ryan McGivern was also confirmed today.

Meanwhile young goalkeeper Will Henry is also set to be recalled from a loan spell at National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough as number one Reice Charles-Cook continues to recover from a wrist injury.

Brown, who arrived at the press conference clutching a Town scarf alongside assistant Brian Horton, has been brought in to try and steer the club to promotion after they slipped out of the play-off place following Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Cheltenham Town.

The new boss revealed he had been pleased by the response of the players to his arrival and admitted he had wasted no time in getting down to work with the squad left behind by departed boss David Flitcroft.

"The last defeat (Cheltenham) at home was a bad one for us. We've got the climb a mountain again. But this isn't a 10-game league, it's a one-game challenge,'' he told the assembled media.

"We've met all the academy and first team players. We had a fantastic day on Tuesday. Wednesday was about organisation.

"(With) the level of quality of players at the football club, we should be in the top part of this division. That's our job, to get them winning again.

"There's plenty of goals in the team. Off the field of play I want the players to respect people, we're not glorified Premier League players.

"Having met the chairman and the owner and realising what the ambitions are, we're on the same page.''

McGivern's arrival is a timely boost for a Town defence shorn of skipper Olly Lancashire and central defensive partner Matt Preston, while the new manager also played up the qualities of on-loan left-back Chris Hussey, who is close to a return to first team action after being an unused substitute against Cheltenham.

"Ryan (McGiven) has played at this level before. He's got to work on his fitness levels, but I have everything to like about Ryan with a shortage of defenders," added Brown.

MORE FROM BROWN, NEW SIGNING MCGIVERN, CAPTAIN MARC RICHARDS AND ASSISTANT BOSS BRIAN HORTON TO COME AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT AND THE SWINDON ADVERTISER