The January transfer window opened on Wednesday with Swindon Town hoping to get business done in both directions this month.

Ian Holloway will have until 11 pm on February 3 to make any moves to put the squad in a good place to achieve survival in League Two.

The 61-year-old has consistently said that he would be looking to focus on bringing in experienced players to add to the leadership within his squad, which whilst he feels has improved in the weeks since his arrival, still maintains requires more veterans.

Holloway said this week that he feels like the squad is at least two players short in that department: “What matters is the skills that they have got and their experience level, it would be very dangerous if I bring in a young one unless he is completely exceptional.

“I think that we are two short in the overall squad; I would normally have four at a certain age, eight at a certain age, eight at another age, and four that are senior, that is 30 plus and we have only got two.”

Another profile of player that Holloway has discussed wanting to address is in wide areas, where he said that he would like to be able to bring in a player who is able to beat opposition defenders off the dribble, as well as offering additional versatility to his tactical options.

Jamie Russell and Mark Kennedy recruited fairly rigidly for a 352 system in the summer and Holloway said that he would like to be able to change things when required.

He said: “If you have centre forwards who are not getting enough chances then where are your wingers? Where are your crosses?

“You also need someone who can run past someone to make someone else free, if you look at the last few games someone has managed to do that to us. What you need is some different types sometimes.

“We recruited for a five and I like to be able to switch it with some wingers.”

Holloway has also said that he intends to try and make some room in the squad by letting fringe players search for more playing time, believing that 24 is a more appropriate squad size rather than the current group of 31.

He confirmed that Miguel Freckleton will be sent back to Sheffield United from his loan after he has not featured since the first half of Holloway’s first game, partially due to injury.

The future of the other loan players is not yet clear, although Joel Cotterill has said that he intends to stay with Town for the second half of the season. Additionally, Holloway said that as long as the team is getting results then he is unlikely to fiddle with the goalkeeper position, where Dan Barden is currently the starter on loan from Norwich City.

Sean McGurk has already joined Yeovil Town on loan but with players who are not featuring likely to be on the chopping block, this would likely include Tariq Uwakwe and Jake Cain, who have one league appearance between them since Holloway's arrival.