PAUL Bodin was concerned that one or two players did not show the kind of commitment to play for Swindon Town he demands as the Robins completed an already miserable campaign without a home win in 2011 following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Oldham.

Despite the fact Town had failed in their bid to retain their League One status with the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, there was a strange air of renewed optimism around the County Ground in the build up to the clash.

That positivity undoubtedly stemmed from the events that unfolded towards the end of last week, with Andrew Fitton stepping aside as chairman and then Paul Hart being replaced by Bodin until the end of the season.

Bodin’s team selection also seemed in tune with the wishes of the fans as he reverted to a 4-4-2 formation, after Hart’s tactics often resulted in only one player in attack.

But, despite a bright start, it soon became clear that the game was heading the way of countless others in front of the Town faithful this season, as the players passed the ball around well but failed to make possession count once it reached the final third.

Oldham were not any better than the hosts but they had the individual brilliance of Chris Taylor to ensure they returned to Lancashire with the three points, with the midfielder scoring a goal in either half to seal victory.

Bodin, though, felt his side’s cause was hampered by a couple of his own players, who he felt were simply going through the motions when they should have been giving their all - if only for personal pride.

“The players are a bit down and feeling a bit sorry for themselves and they are not really working and helping each other,” he said.

“Whether I am in charge or a new manager we have to hit the ground running next season and we have to have the units all singing off the same hymn sheet.

“I understand how some of the players are feeling, I have been in a relegation myself here, but they have got to pick themselves up, they have pride to play for and they are playing for themselves.

“If you can look in the mirror after the game and say they have given everything, I’ll take my hat off to that but certainly one or two players did not put the full shift in.”

Looking towards next season, there were some positives to be taken from the game.

Simon Ferry was almost back to the sort of form he showed last season and if Jonathan Douglas is as committed to staying at Town as he has said he is recently, then the two will comfortably be one of the strongest midfield pairings in League Two next season.

Bodin junior, meanwhile, did not look out of place in attack after being handed a starting role by his father and had two good opportunities to mark his first full start for the club with a goal.

“It would have been a fairytale, especially for him, coming in on his full debut but overall I think he did quite well today,” added Bodin senior.

“Lots of family members were saying ‘you can’t play him because he is your son’ but at the end of the day it was a professional decision and I felt he had earned the right over the course of the season.

“I have judged players over two days of training and if you analyse training then he has certainly deserved the chance for the way he trains and plays.”

A goal or two from his son would not have harmed Bodin’s hopes of impressing the board enough to suggest that he is worthy of a shot as manager long term.

Bodin, though, is taking things one day at a time and is hoping to prove to the powers that be that he has the ability to take on the job full time with his overall work with the first team over the course of the next seven days.

“I won’t put my application in,” he added. “They (the board) know my thoughts and obviously because I work at the club every day I can speak with Nick (Watkins) when I need to and Jeremy (Wray) is only on the end of the phone.

“I have that contact on a daily basis should I need it. So it is a case of just coming in again and from Tuesday preparing for the Tranmere game.”