Former Blues central defender John McGreal, who was appointed boss at League Two Swindon yesterday, has been explaining why he has recently been spending time at Town’s Playford Road training ground.

McGreal’s presence back at the club where he played between 1999 and 2004 led to speculation that he could become manager Paul Cook’s assistant at Portman Road, however, we understand that was never on the cards with the former Colchester boss having always been on the lookout for a club of his own.

Cook and McGreal played alongside one another at Tranmere for 18 months in the mid-nineties.

"I know Paul Cook particularly well and I've been going in there once or twice a week and just picking his brain,” the 48-year-old said at a press conference following his appointment at the County Ground.

"Over the last six weeks, I've been going in on my own as such, right over the far corner at Ipswich, watching how they train and seeing them putting that training into their games on a Saturday and seeing how Paul works.

"He's had three or four promotions, possibly more - I wanted to use his experience and his knowledge for my next job.”

McGreal will be charged with taking the Robins back into League One at the first time of asking following this season's relegation.

“We're looking to make a couple of signings with intent to show the supporters that we mean business, this year," he added. "It's going to be a really competitive budget.

“With the budget that we've got, we should be and will be competitive in this league.

“I know how I want to play the game and I know the type of players I want.

“It's exciting times for me and now I can go round and start making the phone calls to get those type of players that I've used over the last four years with the success we had at Colchester to bring into Swindon and try and win games of football, to get into the top seven and get promoted.”

Photo: Matchday Images

johnwarksshorts added 16:23 - May 27 Good luck, hope you manage to achieve promotion back to league 1.
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cat added 17:04 - May 27 Good to read some positivity regarding P.C. The three things which have impressed me so far is Cook is his own man, a straight talker and he's not afraid to ruffle a few feathers. But its a results business and after last seasons poor offering he needs to hit the ground running to get the crowd on side.
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Suffolkboy added 17:31 - May 27 McG was a good man of solid character and much appreciated as a playing member of our squad at ITFC . Let's wish him every good fortune in his new job ,and the success to go with it ! COYB
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wazza added 18:32 - May 27 I wonder if he will have any interest in taking any players, and if so who
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therein61 added 18:36 - May 27 All the best to you John you served us well and deserve some success in management.
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Trequartista added 20:33 - May 27 "McGreal : I've Been Cooking Pig's Brain" is how the headline might have been if interviewed after a few beers.
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