SELDOM a quiet place during any month of the year, let alone January, the County Ground saw three player departures, five arrivals, and a change in head coach throughout the first 31 days of the year.

Adver Sport’s Jonny Leighfield reflects on the club’s winter business and weighs up whether Town are in a better or worse place then when 2022 morphed into 2023.

Kicking off any window with the acquisition of Charlie Austin can never be a bad thing. The striker has already bagged three goals in two starts and – if he remains fit and firing under Jody Morris – is more than capable of providing the ammunition to a promotion push.

Adding technically-gifted midfielder, Jake Cain could prove to be a smart move by Town’s recruitment staff too. Although he has only played 45 minutes so far, the ex-Liverpool youngster appeared calm and confident on the ball and capable of filling a Louis Reed-shaped gap after his inevitable move to Mansfield Town.

Reed’s departure was a shame, but it seemed like he watched some of his old teammates earn moves during the summer and wondered why he wasn’t able to sign elsewhere as well.

To me, it looked like the 24-year-old physically returned for pre-season training, but mentally he was still at home in Sheffield. With six months left and Reed highly unlikely to sign a new contract, it worked for all parties to move on early.

It was a similar situation with Ben Gladwin, in terms of his contract, although his form was arguably as good as it had ever been in Wiltshire prior to his late move to join Scott Lindsey at Crawley Town.

Although Swindon ended up signing Dylan Kadji on loan from Bristol City until the end of the season in the final moments of deadline day, it looks as though Jody Morris’ squad are at least one light in there. Someone you can hang your hat on each week. Saidou Khan and Ronan Darcy have been great in spells, but not consistently. Cain is new, and who knows what 19-year-old Kadji will bring.

Morris admitted in his pre-Newport County press conference that Town’s squad is still a little thin, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see the club go after one or two additions in free agency.

Elsewhere, tying Frazer Blake-Tracy down to an 18-month deal was absolutely necessary to avoid potentially losing the 27-year-old early. It also began to address the concerning lack of experience in the Town squad following the departure of Angus MacDonald to Aberdeen.

Blake-Tracy will almost certainly make a permanent switch to centre-back, having looked assured there in his time so far, although Town probably need another central defender if they want to play with three.

Another returnee, Joe Tomlinson is a perfect piece of business for Town, as far as I’m concerned. From Swindon’s perspective, he’s young, he has quality, and he has re-sale value. From the fans’ point of view, he’s from the area, he’s personable, and he loves the club. It’s what business experts like to call ‘win-win’.

Overall, I’d say Swindon are in almost exactly the same position as they were before it opened.

Prior to January 1, Town lacked a goalscorer and were concerned about losing their loanees. But they were strong enough in midfield and had enough cover at centre-back.

Fast forward a month, the goal-scoring issue has been more than solved and the loanee issue is no longer there thanks to an astute piece of business and kept promises, but there are a worrying lack of consistent options in midfield and they’re one short in central defence.

The club can easily improve the situation, though. Add at least one more midfielder and another centre-back – both of whom should have some experience, and the promotion trip is still on.

Otherwise, I can see shades of Richie Wellens taking over from Phil Brown. The first season fizzles out and promotion takes another year. Would that be the worst thing? No. But there is a great opportunity there right now, so take it.