7:10am Saturday 13th March 2010
By Anthony Marshall
TOWN’S blossoming relationship with Liverpool is the latest of many link-ups between the County Ground outfit and top flight sides.
That is the hope of Swindon manager Danny Wilson, who landed Reds full-back Stephen Darby, pictured, on loan until the end of the season earlier this week.
Chairman Andrew Fitton has already built bridges between Town and Celtic, with Scott Cuthbert, Simon Ferry and Ben Hutchinson all coming to Wiltshire on both permanent and loan deals, while Bolton have also lent forwards Tope Obadeyi and Danny Ward this season.
And as the club continues to try and make arrangements with other Premier League sides, Wilson is confident that Liverpool will send more players their way in the future. “We have to try and forge links with the bigger clubs, and likewise the bigger clubs with us,” he explained. “It’s an area where if the players aren’t playing or want to step up their development, then they have to go into league football.
“But you have to have people and teams who you can trust. Hopefully we can have that relationship with Liverpool.
“I’m fortunate that I have known virtually all the people up there (Liverpool) over a long period of time. We’ve had a good relationship over many years.
“But this isn’t a pals act. It is a professional transaction where hopefully they can get the best for their player and we can get the best out of him for our benefit. It’s a two-way thing.
“You have to be realistic - Liverpool won’t put players out to a club where they think it won’t enhance his performances. Thankfully we’ve been trusted in that respect.
“Now it’s up to us to make the boy (Darby) play as well as we possibly can and get some good results for him.”
Town head to Sussex this afternoon to take on Brighton, with Seagulls boss Gus Poyet wary of the power the visitors possess.
The Uruguayan – who was assistant manager at the County Ground in 2006 for three months – believes that if his side let their concentration slip, then Swindon’s prolific strike force will take advantage.
“They are very, very powerful,” said Poyet. “Swindon play their own game, it doesn’t matter too much what the opposition does.
“They know their strengths and they try to play that way all day. It doesn’t matter about the result, if they are winning or losing, you know how powerful they are up front especially and how they are going to make you pay attention to them.
“If you relax for a second you know you’ve got a massive problem and they are going to score a goal.
“It’s another game where we have to be spot-on and then, of course, play our game and try to cause them problems.”
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