Swindon Town's football league status remains in a precarious position heading into 2025, but the fact that 5 other teams, Tranmere, Harrogate Town, Accrington Stanley, Carlisle, and Morecambe are also deep in the relegation battle will give Robins fans some hope.
Photo by Peter Glaser on Unsplash
The appointment of Holloway in late October brought a lot of media attention as the charismatic leader returned to the game for the first time since leaving Grimsby Town in 2020.
One good bit of news for Swindon fans is that bookmakers don't expect the club to be relegated this season, with Morecambe the current odds-on favourite for the drop.
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While the opinion of sports betting experts should give Swindon fans some comfort, they will also be hopeful that performances on the pitch improve.
The experience of Holloway who has been in management for almost 30 years should help. His CV is impressive with stints at Bristol Rovers, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, and Blackpool some of the highlights.
Up until the New Year, Holloway had managed the club in 13 games, winning 5, drawing 4, and losing 4. His win percentage of 38.46% is the best the club has had for a full-time manager since Ben Garner during the 2021/22 season.
One thing the club is desperate for is stability in terms of management, with players unable to get used to tactics or training methods in recent years. Since 2020, Swindon Town have had 15 managerial changes including interim positions.
Having Holloway in place should help the players, and an extension to his 1-year deal could be on the cards if he can lead them up the table.
Holloway is known for being passionate and honest, which can sometimes lead to disharmony with fans as evidenced by his heated exchange with a supporter when Swindon were beaten 1-0 by Hull. His own players had to hold him back, but it could be this fire that can help the club.
His management style revolves around having great man-management skills and instilling belief in his squad. Looking at the statistics so far this season, the squad has no standout performer in terms of assists, with four players tied on 2 leading the way.
In contrast, 29-year-ol target man Harry Smith is the club's leading scorer having netted 10 times in 21 games. Kabongo Tshimanga has also chipped in with 5 goals and the club will be relying on both continuing this form for the second half of the season.
A good run of form could propel Swindon into mid-table safety and provide a solid base to build on for next season. Seven games in January, including a cup tie against Birmingham, could help to transform Swindon's season.
