Austin says fans must stick with Town despite difficult season

Charlie Austin said that the Swindon Town fans needed to stick with the club if they were going to push forward.

Swindon ended the campaign with a 3-3 draw against Morecambe to see them finish in 19th place in League Two, with many questions remaining heading into the summer about the next manager and the future of the playing squad.

The club captain said when speaking to club media that despite the frustration the fans would understandably have following a difficult season, it was vital that they stick with the team if things are to improve.

He said: “It was [a touching moment after the game], especially for how the season has gone and the way they [the fans] stuck around and sang for me at the end. That means a lot.

“I have enjoyed being the captain of this football club in my second spell, I really have and it is sad that it hasn’t worked out the way that I envisioned when I first came through the door.

“For them, they [the fans] need to keep coming to this football club, because they are the life and soul of it.

“They can [have a big impact] and the biggest thing is for me that the social media stuff is rubbish.

“People write this and that and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I get that, but the people that come here week in, week out and pay their money are the life and soul and the true fans.

“They are the ones that travel here, travel away, come here on a Tuesday night when it is wet, cold, and awful – they need to keep coming.

“Every football club has noise, you have just got to park that and sift through the rubbish.”

Austin added that this summer would be vital in the club’s goals of pushing up the table following a disappointing campaign.

He said: “Of course, there are [positives for next season], the boys that are staying here for next season have got something to build on.

“They know that they don’t want to be in this position again, so they know that they need to push on and push harder.

“The new boys that come in will have to understand where those boys have been, so they are going to have to help them to get up the league.

“There is potential here, but it is a big summer for the football club.”