ECSTATIC Dave Byrne says his players can now perform with a "smile on their faces" after Andrew Fitton and his consortium finally completed their conditional' Town takeover on Thursday night.

Swindon's caretaker manager had a spring in his step yesterday as he prepared his troops for the visit of Hartlepool United, and Byrne is hoping to deliver fans another Christmas present in the shape of three League One points this afternoon.

He said: "It's absolutely unbelievable.

"Everyone is buzzing about it.

The players heard the news late on Thursday and already you can see a totally different body language.

"Now they can go out there and perform with a smile on their faces again.If we could go and beat Hartlepool that would really make my Christmas.

"I'm just so pleased for the supporters. It's been unbearable for them and they deserve this new start.

"I just pray they all turn up on Saturday and give Mr Fitton and Mr Wray the reception they deserve."

With Fitton's consortium taking control of affairs at the County Ground from yesterday, Byrne insists everyone at the club can look forward to a brighter future.

He will seek counsel with the new owners over the coming days, with the vacant manager's post and transfer funds for January likely to be high on the agenda.

"Let's see which way this consortium wants to go first," he said.

"We will let them do exactly what they think is necessary.

"I'm sure when they do get settled in they will let me know what they expect.

"I've been in contact with the owners over the last couple of weeks because there were some questions that needed to be answered."

"We need to sit down and discuss the whole playing side of things, not just the first team but the kids as well.

Byrne and co-caretaker Ady Williams have officially thrown their hats into the ring for the manager's job, but Byrne insists he will not press the issue.

Town's head of youth is determined to let first team results do the talking, but knows he must first halt the slide of three successive defeats.

He said: "Me and Ady have given it 100 per cent but results have not gone our way.

"We've got players back from injury now so I have got a body of soldiers that I think we can do some damage with now, so let's wait and see.

"One thing I have found very different since taking over the first team is that you are only judged on results.

"If we do start to turn results around it will be a nice problem for the new owners to have."