SWINDON Town have renamed the Town End the Alan McLoughlin stand, sponsored by Imagine Cruising, with immediate effect.

Club legend McLoughlin died aged 54 in May after a long battle with cancer, and Town have opted to pay tribute to a man who played 136 times for Swindon before going on to be a key figure at the club's academy by naming a stand after him.

In a lengthy statement on the club's website, Town said: "As head of the academy, McLoughlin shaped the lives and careers of so many young men and he was loved and adored by those who played under him and worked alongside him at the club.

"Therefore, we are absolutely delighted to be able to officially rename The Town End to "The Alan McLoughlin Town End," in partnership with Imagine Cruising, with 10 per cent of all sponsorship proceeds from the stand going to the Prospect Hospice, who helped the McLoughlin family look after Alan at home during his final days."

The re-naming of the Town End marks the first time a stand at the County Ground has been changed since March 2008, when the Shrivenham Road stand was re-branded as the Don Rogers stand in honour of the 1969 League-Cup-winning hero.

Regarding the tribute to McLoughlin, Town CEO Rob Angus said: "This is a really fitting way to remember Alan McLoughlin. He will forever be known as a club icon and we are proud and honoured to have been able to rename The Town End in his honour.

"We must also thank Imagine Cruising for their support in making this happen, and we are looking forward to working closely with them again this season and have them involved in this exciting journey for the football club."

In Town's statement, the club included a message from the McLoughlin family which read: "We would like to thank Clem [Morfuni], Rob [Angus] and the management team for all of their support, and for making Swindon Town a club we can all be proud of.

"We would like to especially thank the Prospect Hospice who helped us look after Alan at home during his final few days. 

"And, finally, thank you to all of the people and fans who sent messages of support and such moving tributes for Alan. It was those messages that helped us as a family get through a very sad and difficult time. 

"Alan dedicated his life to football and coaching. He was very proud of all of his boys and scholars, and we would like to wish them all every success in everything they do."