FORGET the last-minute Christmas shopping and get down to the County Ground this afternoon to cheer on Dave Byrne and the boys against Hartlepool United.

That is the message from TRUSTSTFC chairman Paul Davis, who is still pinching himself today after hearing the news he and every other Swindon Town fan had been craving for months.

Davis, pictured right, admits the club's new owners have a massive rebuilding task on their hands, but is confident the future under Andrew Fitton's consortium will be a whole lot brighter.

He said: "For this weekend, the message that goes out to the fans and the town as a whole is that their club is safe. For the first time in years we can go to a football match and enjoy the game without having to worry about the future of our club.

"Everyone in Swindon should sneak away from the Christmas shopping for a couple of hours and come to the County Ground. It's going to be a fantastic atmosphere, let's all have a party in the stands."

Davis admits he was growing more anxious by the day after deadlines for the completion of the deal came and went, but he insists he was always confident Fitton & Co would take control.

He said: "The process was a long and drawn out one, but I'm glad it's been resolved. I was confident the deal would get done, but it did look like it would drag into another week.

"There had come a highly-belated but welcome recognition from the now previous owners that they had nowhere else to go.

"They had to get the deal done or be responsible for the extinction of this football club. But that's behind us now.

"For the first time in years I think we can look forward to an extremely bright future."

Davis has praised the new regime for their transparency in communication to date, and is looking forward to meeting the owners in due course.

Davis has also pledged the TRUST's help to build bridges between the club and its fan-base, many of whom he says felt alienated under the previous owners.

"There's a massive rebuilding job to do and I think we, the fans, can play a part in that and I would like to offer our help," he said.

"This whole process must have been very frustrating for the consortium, but I have been very encouraged by their professionalism and honesty.

"They have sought to keep the fans informed at every stage and that is a big positive for me.

"The key now has got to be financial stability of the club.

"That's what we're looking for.

"We are not so much pleased that the consortium are worth millions, but rather that the club will be managed properly from top to bottom."