NEW Swindon Town manager Phil Brown is relishing a ‘rare’ opportunity at a historic football club.

Town announced Brown as the club’s new first team boss last night, just over a week after the Advertiser first reported that the former Hull City boss was interested in the role.

Former Manchester City and Oxford United boss Brian Horton will be assisting him in his new role.

Senior player Matt Taylor, who served as interim manager for Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Cheltenham Town, will also play a part on the coaching side following Brown's arrival.

Brown joins the club with the club just outside the League Two play-off positions, with only 10 league fixtures remaining.

Speaking to the Advertiser, he described his new role at the County Ground as unique, exciting and rare.

He said: “When a club like Swindon Town becomes available a lot of managers will show interest because of the history and size of the club.

“It was a shock to the football world when David (Flitcroft) jumped ship.

“There are challenges ahead. And it’s a unique challenge for me. I have a chance to add another promotion to my CV.

“Usually managers will join a club amid a relegation battle. But this isn’t the case.

“We have a chance for promotion, and that’s a rare opportunity for a new manager.”

Brown will meet his new squad for the first time tomorrow morning before travelling to Bournemouth to watch Town’s reserve team compete in their latest Central League fixture.

The reserve game will present Brown with an opportunity to watch some first team players in action for the first time and he’ll use the game to help him prepare for Saturday’s away trip to Cambridge.

He said: “The reserve game will give me an opportunity to look at the players in a game situation.

“I’ll be assessing the players. In particular I’ll be looking at the players that haven’t played many minutes of late.

“On Thursday we’ll make our mind up tactically – that’s our short-term plan.

“Long term we want to beat Cambridge. We have 10 games left in the league, it’s a unique position to be in.

“I’ll also be travelling to Exeter to watch the Yeovil game tomorrow, Brian (Horton) will be joining me for that.''