CHIEF executive Nick Watkins plans to tap into the huge potential at the County Ground after unveiling his ambitious blueprint for the new "Swindon experience".

Watkins, a former director at Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers, wants to revolutionise the way the club is run, giving every supporter, guest and sponsor a "first class" match-day experience.

Watkins, pictured left, is also charged with steering Swindon towards chairman Andrew Fitton's 10-point plan for the future, but his immediate concern is to build bridges with the local community.

He said: "What I have worked out, possibly through neglect or a lack of finance, is that this football club has lost any true sense of experience at being part of Swindon Town, for the fans.

"The 10-point plan will address things stage by stage, but underpinning all that is that we would like to create something called the Swindon experience.

"Anybody who has any association with the club, be they a fan or a sponsor, a guest or visitor, or staff on the playing or non-playing side, I want them to enjoy the experience.

"I want them to walk away from here at the end of the game and say that was great entertainment and great value for money.

"During the season we have 24 or 25 opportunities to put on a performance. Each one of those performances has got to be first class."

Watkins praised the efforts of the backroom staff during a turbulent few months at the County Ground which saw the club teeter on the brink of closure. But with Fitton's consortium now in control, Watkins insists the fans can look forward to better times ahead.

He said: "The first thing that struck me here was that despite all the uncertainty that has gone on for quite some time, the commitment, loyalty and passion of the people involved in the back offices has been exceptional and they deserve great credit.

"We now have to connect with the community again, connect with the fans and bring the club back into the heart of Swindon Town and everything that it stands for."

After years of strained relationships with local businesses and creditors, Watkins hopes to win back the trust and respect of the people in the town. With a clean slate for the new owners to work from, Watkins believes the club can start to rebuild its reputation and attract new business partners in the future.

He said: "What they (potential sponsors) have been nervous about doing is getting involved in a club whose financial future was uncertain. Therefore they didn't want to risk putting any money into the club by way of sponsorship or other support.

"But people will always be receptive to you going to see them and engaging them in conversation. The only thing I have discovered is that there is a door still open, and all you have to do is push it."