SWINDON Town will reap the benefits in team morale and tactics from their week-long warm-weather training camp in Spain, according to experienced defender Matt Taylor.

Taylor, who will serve as player-coach on manager Phil Brown’s backroom staff at the Energy Check County Ground during the 2018-19 season, jetted off to southern Europe with the rest of the Town squad on Sunday night.

The pre-season tour, which follows Town’s two friendly wins over local non-league sides Cirencester Town and Melksham Town, is yet to include any competitive fixture.

Taylor believes spending time away from the club’s training ground in Calne with his team-mates will be vitally important to help build bonds off the pitch.

The 36-year-old said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the coaching side.

“We’ve had a warm-weather training camp in England for a fortnight, but it’s good to go away.

“It’s vitally important as it allows the team to bond, and it will give the manager and Neil (McDonald, assistant manager) a lot of time to get their ideas across for the upcoming season and it’s a change of scenery too.”

The former West Ham United and Portsmouth player has got 90 minutes under his belt during Town’s pre-season campaign thus far.

And he has seemingly picked up from where he left off at the end of the previous campaign after delivering a sensational long-ball to the feet of Keshi Anderson to tee up Swindon’s second goal against Melksham last Saturday.

But improving fitness levels is highest of Taylor’s to do list while the group are away.

“Pre-season is about gradually building up fitness and game time,” said Taylor.

“It’s vital, but in my opinion, the work we do behind closed doors on the training ground and the ideas of Neil and the manager are too.”

Town are due to travel home from Spain today before playing their first home pre-season friendly of the summer on Saturday against Championship side West Bromwich Albion.