CHAIRMAN Lee Power revealed he was in talks with candidates interested in the manager's role at Swindon Town before offering Phil Brown a two-year deal to remain at the Energy Check County Ground.

Power and Brown met on Tuesday night to discuss outstanding issues at the club, including budgets, personnel off the pitch and assurances for the next two seasons.

Brown agreed a two-year deal to remain in charge of Town on Wednesday afternoon, but Power had other options on standby before offering the former Hull City boss the job.

He told BBC Wiltshire: “I had to have conversations with other people, even though Phil made it clear he wanted the job.

“We had to sit down and go through a number of things so we could come to an agreement – budgets, personnel off the pitch, assurances and so on.

“We had to get that done.

“He’s had 10 games and I know he’s fallen in love with the area, the supporters and the club itself.

“He’s been very positive and, from an early stage, very keen to keep the job, and thinks the football club can go one way. We hope he’s right.”

Two pre-season friendlies have already been pencilled in, with recently-relegated Premier League club West Bromwich Albion and League One side Portsmouth set to face Brown’s men.

A pre-season tour abroad was also on Power’s mind, although the chairman will leave such decisions in the hands of Brown as he eyes promotion back into League One.

Outstanding player contracts are also set to be confirmed in the next week as Brown confirmed he’s ready for a busy summer transfer window.

“There are a lot of players out of contract, there are players with options that we need to let them know if we’re taking up,” said Power.

“There’s pre-season to take care of, Phil’s got his own plans in mind.

“We’ve got Portsmouth and West Brom visiting Town. I’m not sure of the dates or whether they’ve been confirmed yet, but I know those are two games that have been pencilled in.

“Phil will take charge of that now and decide whether the team needs to go away somewhere to a training camp or if they will stay in the UK and fit matches in.

“That’s the manager’s property.”