THIS week the realisation of the re-building job ahead at Swindon Town this season really hit home as more players moved onto new pastures.

Out of the fourteen players who took to the field at Wembley in May, just three remain at the club after Nathan Byrne and Michael Smith made their exits on transfer deadline day.

All fans at this level of the game are used to watching their club help and nurture young talent to then watch them help other clubs win promotion or trophies elsewhere, it’s the nature of the beast, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch.

As expected on deadline day, Nathan Byrne moved to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, as I mentioned last week Byrne owes a lot to Town for turning him into a top class attacking midfielder, he deserves his step up the ladder, and I’m sure he’ll be a success at Molineux.

We also saw Michael Smith leave Town for fellow League One club Barnsley on loan, Smith did enjoy some great moments at Swindon and at times looked the real deal, but then we endured a performance like last Saturday, where he didn’t look interested.

With Jordan Stewart the ready replacement for Nathan Byrne, the club needed to find a new striker to replace Smith, and thankfully they got their man.

In recent years Wes Thomas and Swindon Town always seemed to be linked together but it came to nothing, but that changed on Tuesday as the 28-year-old signed for Mark Cooper's side on loan until January.

Thomas has plenty of valuable Football League experience and will be great competition for Jonathan Obika and Jermaine Hylton for a space up top, when they both return from injury.

Along with the arrival of Wes Thomas, we saw the return of Nicky Ajose.

After an underwelming deadline day, the next day Lee Power revealed the ace in the pack as he unveiled Nicky Ajose on a three-year-deal.

Adding Ajose to our already talented frontline is exciting for all Town fans, and i'm sure he'll go on to become a key player this season.

Last Saturday Town were forced to watch and learn a lesson in how to win away as Sheffield Utd left with all the points, but despite the defeat, there were some positives to come from the game, one being Drissa Toure.

When Toure arrived on trial during the summer I wasn’t expecting a lot from a player who had been released by a relegated club who didn’t play him once in 2015.

But ever since his arrival he’s turned heads and impressed many, I have to admit I am a late convert after missing his pre-season games, but his performance on Saturday showed why Lee Power snapped up the former Notts County midfielder.

He didn’t stop working throughout the entire game, was willing to make a tackle and was able to find a teammate when it mattered with the ball.

Follow me on Twitter @danwjonson

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