No.11 | Bert Head | Manager October 1956 to July 1965 | Score 287.4 We’re kicking off the top ten with a true Swindon Town managerial legend and our second longest serving manager – Bert Head. Town had spent years in the doldrums, suffering from mismanagement and financial constraints, both culminating in management by a selection committee throughout 1955-56 and the inevitable
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This feature was only meant to last one month, however with the various transfer news and other commitments, this has turned into a beast of a project so Managers Month is rolling over into July with the final ten. So far I’ve confirmed my initial suspicions that Paul Hart was our worst ever manager. Yes he didn’t come 30th, however
Read moreNo.12 | Danny Wilson | Manager December 2008 to March 2011 | Score 278.2 Now back in business with Sheffield United, in early March Danny Wilson was a broken man. After coming so near to promotion less than a season ago, his Swindon side were staring relegation in the face and Wilson decided to resign, helped by the fact that
Read moreNo.13 | Paul Sturrock | Manager November 2006 to November 2007 | Score 265.5 I’ve finally reached a Swindon Town manager who actually achieved something positive in this countdown, as Paul Sturrock secured us a promotion! On joining on 7th November 2006, Town had been without a manager for two weeks following Dennis Wise’s departure. After a great opening, losing just
Read moreNo.14 | John Gorman | Manager June 1993 to November 1994 | Score 259.53 John Gorman could’ve followed Glenn Hoddle to Chelsea, but he didn’t. Instead the untested and brave Gorman stayed on at the request of chairman Ray Hardman, reflecting the views of the majority of supporters who wanted continuity as Town faced the toughest of tasks to avoid relegation from the Premier League
Read moreNo.15 | Les Allen | Manager November 1972 to February 1974 | Score 258.1 From one Allen who was a club legend in the early 20th century, to manager No.14 Les Allen, who clearly doesn’t deserve to be this high in this countdown. That is despite Les’ own legendary status as a player with Spurs and QPR in the 1950s and 60s as well as
Read moreNo.16 | Sam Allen | Manager July 1920 to April 1933 | Score 256.9 In this feature I’m only counting seasons starting from the 1920/21 season. This was when Swindon Town were elected as founding members of Division Three. Of course, Sam Allen was appointed head of team affairs back in 1902, so these statistics don’t include his fine Southern League pedigree and
Read moreNo.17 | Louis Page | Manager 1945 to May 1953 | Score 250.4 Louis was Swindon’s fourth manager, appointed after the War to lead Town in Division Three South. With the club having been closed down and the County Ground turned into a POW camp, Town are at a disadvantage to our competitors, howver Louis steers Town to a 4th place finish in
Read moreRecent applicant for the Swindon Town manager position Ollie Howitt tells his story about being overlooked to replace Paul Hart and become Swindon manager no.31. On April 28th 2011, Swindon Town sacked Paul Hart after a dismal run relegated us. Cue the rumours surrounding the next manager. Whilst reading the local newspapers and online rumour sites I had to laugh at those
Read moreNo.18 | Andy King (2) | Manager December 2001 to September 2005 | Score 247.2 Andy King was reinstated following the ousting of the Board that had brought Roy Evans into the managerial hotseat, leading to the former Red resigning. King’s reappearance in the County Ground was a backwards step, never has an imcumbant manager faced such a hostile reception and
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The Washbag 