RICHIE Wellens is confident that Swindon Town chairman Lee Power has turned a corner with club supporters this season.

The Town manager’s comments came ahead of this afternoon’s top of the table clash between Swindon and Exeter City at the County Ground – a much anticipated clash given Eoin Doyle’s permanent return to Wiltshire from former club Bradford City in the week.

Wellens revealed to the Adver ahead of this afternoon’s game that affording the business he has completed this month would not have been possible under budgets he is allowed to use.

That, therefore, confirmed Power has invested funds from his own sources to ensure fans’ favourites Eoin Doyle, Anthony Grant and Paul Caddis signed for the club on a permanent basis.

News of the trio’s capture, in addition to Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Hallam Hope, Jerry Yates and Admiral Muskwe’s loan arrival, has without question won over club supporters.

Wellens said: “Lee (Power) has said he has made mistakes, everyone has.

“But what you can’t do is vilify them and not give them the opportunity to recover from those mistakes.

“Lee has always supported myself ever since I walked through the door, and I think the supporters can sense that.

“The chairman comes to the games now and enjoys it, and people love him.

“If you’re a chairman putting your end in your pocket and funding the club while picking up stick, it can’t be a nice place to be in.

“I’m pleased for him, and I see a big future for the club.”

Should Swindon go on to win promotion into League One, Wellens is confident he has a squad in place at this very moment to compete in England’s third tier.

Should a sudden slip ‘n’ slide down the League Two table occur, though, and Town fail to earn a spot back in League One, Wellens is similarly encouraged that he would have little off-field work to do in terms of a summer overhaul.

He added: “The chairman has been putting his hand in his pocket, it’s not money I’ve got to my disposal – I couldn’t afford what we’ve done.

“I think he realises that there is something good happening. And off the back of making these signings, the club could have a five-figure crowd on Saturday afternoon.

“Hopefully our home games now can help, because it will put money back into the club and allow Lee (Power) to get players in.

“If we go up, brilliant. I believe we’ve got a squad that can compete in League One.

“But, if we don’t, we want to get to the summer and be comfortable that we don’t need anyone – maybe one or two faces.

“The last few years, that hasn’t happened – 10 or 15 have gone out and in.”