Bycroft still 'has a huge future' at Swindon Town, despite being dropped

Head coach Mark Kennedy believes goalkeeper Jack Bycroft still “has a huge future” at Swindon Town, despite being dropped from his starting XI.

The 23-year-old was replaced by Norwich City loanee Dan Barden for Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers.

It was Barden’s first appearance in a league game for Town, having featured in the Football League Trophy against Exeter last month.

But despite the switch of stoppers, Kennedy insists Salisbury-born Bycroft is still part of his thinking.

He said: "I think as a head coach you have to make big decisions and you have to make tough decisions.

"I think that Jack has had a very solid start to the season and has made some very big saves, technically with his feet he has been huge for us in build-up.

"I think Jack can feel really hard done by and he should be sat on the bench disappointed and I know that he is.

"He is a huge credit to the club and has a huge future but you have to make decisions and I think Dan's performances in training have said 'can you please have a look at me?'.

"I just thought that a change was good for both parties but Jack has a huge future at this club.

"It was nothing to do with Jack or anything he had been doing, it was a head coach's decision to win the game."

Barden was beaten by Kristian Dennis’s 17^th-minute goal at Prenton Park, before an own goal from Chris Merrie earned Town a point.

Swindon remain 21^st in League Two, with seven points from nine games. They host Harrogate on Saturday (3pm).