SWINDON Town's new era will be run by "sensible business" rather than "emotions" as they look to ensure the club's financial defences are never breached again.

On the day that Simon Cox finally became an official Town player, chief executive Nick Watkins insisted his transfer saga was a sign of a more pragmatic approach to affairs at the County Ground.

While Town eventually managed to persuade the Reading striker to commit to the Robins, Watkins, pictured left, revealed the club were never prepared to let "their hearts rule their head".

He admits negotiations over personal terms threatened Cox's arrival in Wiltshire but revealed the club were prepared to pull the plug rather than set a dangerous precedent.

In the past Town have landed themselves in financial misery by handing out lucrative contracts without a thought for the fall-out, but Watkins promises that will be no more.

He said: "I know a lot of the focus has been on the arrival of Simon at the County Ground and I know we are all delighted and thrilled about that and that it eventually did happen.

"I am sure you are all aware it was in the balance on Thursday though due to the club and the player and everyone involved trying to reach a sensible compromise.

"There was a limit to which the club was prepared to go.

"I think it is absolutely right that we set that limit because if we breach those barriers we create all sorts of problems for ourselves."

The glitch in the paperwork that prevented Cox's inclusion in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Northampton was finally sorted on Monday morning.

And with chairman Andrew Fitton's consortium now well established at SN1, Watkins insists pragmatism will continue to be the order of the day.

He said: "Andrew was anxious to bring Simon here to continue to show the commitment to the fans and continue to deliver on the promises we made when we got involved but was also saying the heart can't rule the head. We can't have a situation where we are ruled by emotions because we could agree all sorts of precedents and problems going forward.

"Simon, as I would expect from anyone of his calibre, had a degree of confidence and slight arrogance to say I am worth more and you expect that in a striker'.

"Andrew said he could find a way of getting this across the line without breaching the barriers and from a business perspective it was a great example of everyone working together and keeping a cool head. You can't let emotion drive you through."