THE ADDITION of a few fresh faces in the January transfer window should see Swindon Town well on their way to a push for promotion in League Two over the second half of the season, according to former favourite Sam Parkin.

Town legend Parkin, who scored 73 goals in 142 games for the club during three seasons in the early 2000s, believes David Flitcroft’s side are nicely placed in 10th in the table after 25 of their 48 league games.

Swindon are just two points shy of a play-off place at present but after an inconsistent series of results at the Energy Check County Ground, there is a feeling that the team could be slightly better off.

Parkin, who now casts his eye over Town as a presenter and summariser for BBC Wiltshire, thinks that should Flitcroft be able to make the necessary additions to his squad this month, there is no reason why Swindon should not be in contention for promotion come May.

“I think the top two – Luton and Notts County – are probably gone now and it would still take a big effort to get into the top three but the play-offs are absolutely achievable,” said Parkin.

“We are still a little bit short in terms of the quality needed to say they will definitely be in there so three more bodies will help, and if the home form does improve, then they have got a great opportunity to get in the play-off shake-up.

“I would look at bringing in a centre forward, a midfielder and maybe even a wide player, if the manager is looking at playing the new 3-5-2 formation.

“But he might also look for another centre half given there are only three fit ones now who are probably going to be playing every week.

“The team miss a bit of creativity in midfield having lost Timi Elsnik to injury. I thought he was just starting to show how good a player he can be. He’s someone that can see a pass going forwards but also acts as another body in the box.

“You see it so often when balls get flashed across the box and they are just lacking the numbers a little bit and he showed with those goals at Dartford that he could be the one to get in there.

“He is obviously a cultured footballer so if he is not going to be back fit, I think someone in that mould – a bit of creativity in midfield – would be ideal.”

Although the home woes have been a big source of frustration for all supporters, Parkin believes Flitcroft deserves credit for finding a solution that led to a 1-0 win at home to second-placed Notts County in the most recent match at SN1.

That helped yield a nine-point haul from four games over the Christmas period, a return that Parkin thinks has been a crucial shot in the arm.

“The position they are in the table has not too bad given the troubles at home and that horrendous run in early December,” said Parkin.

“I felt the games against Crewe and Barnet were pretty much must-wins it they were going to have ambitions of getting into the play-offs, so to get the Notts County result as well was a really good return from the Christmas period.

“At the start of the season we all harboured hopes that they would be competing for the top three but consistency has been the main problem.

“They had that brilliant winning run and then that horrible run of defeats. They have been through the mill this season so they just need to find that bit of consistency to try to get into those play-offs.

“They have been getting success away from home and something obviously went on between the staff where they came up with a way of playing at home against Notts County, which they have to be commended for.

“It was a head-scratcher as to why the players were performing so badly at home but the manager has recognised it and has to be given credit for that Notts County result.

“Hopefully this can be the turning point and they can be more solid at home.”