Kaiyne Woolery Exclusive: Why I left Swindon Town

KAIYNE WOOLERY insists Swindon Town never sent him a contract this summer despite manager Richie Wellens publicly stating he wanted to sign the winger as the forward opted to join League Two Tranmere Rovers on a permanent deal. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to Woolery in this exclusive interview.

Signing for Swindon for a fee of £350,000 in the summer of 2017, Woolery made 111 appearances for the Robins, scoring 14 times for the club and helping the side lift the League Two trophy last season. 

But as his contract came to its end in August, Woolery was left as a free agent with both Swindon and Liverpool-based Tranmere Rovers battling for his signature. 

Despite having enjoyed success at SN1 however, Woolery said his decision to move North was eventually an easy one to make with Swindon’s inability to send over a contract, combined with his desire for a new challenge, the deciding factor.

“I did try and stay at Swindon and I was waiting to see the offer. I was speaking to them all week, but in the end I didn’t get any contract,” said Woolery.

“There was a contract at the start before I went away but it wasn’t what I wanted to sign. We then wanted to sign for the club but no contract was ever sent to us.

"The deal was meant to get sorted after the West Brom game, they were meant to send contracts but nothing ever came. 

“The gaffer said I don’t know why its not there, he told them to but nothing ever materialised.

“Richie kept telling me a contract was coming and people higher up at Swindon said it's coming but it never came,” he added.

“He told me he didn’t know why a contract hadn’t been sent to me and I think it was out of his hands.

“I’m over the moon to sign at Tranmere. I’m not disappointed because everything happens for a reason. 

“Tranmere has always been there for me. I was meant to go at January last year, and it’s nice to feel wanted again,” he said.

“Tranmere is a club that fits well with what I’m looking for, and they probably shouldn’t have gone down last year.

“The plan is to come here and get promotion again.

“I don’t see it as a step down because if I perform the way Richie expected me too then I will be in the same position.

“Tranmere is a big club and I’m delighted to be here,” said Woolery.

Like every football transfer window, speculation is rife on social media, with it hard to distinguish between comment and conjecture as fans and media outlets spread rumours on the hope of being the first to break big news.

Woolery’s case was no different as sets of fans grilled the forward, stating that he was greedy and holding Swindon to ransom. 

This was something that Woolery was quick to deny, explaining that fans don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, before praising the STFC faithful for supporting him during his time at the club.

“I’ve been getting grilled by fans on social media but it was simply that we were waiting for a contract to get sent over,” stated Woolery.

“Fans will always have their opinion but they don’t know the truth, someone made up a rumour and it just spread. 

“I saw a rumour going around about Michael Doughty and it just shows what can be made up.

“It’s football and it happens all over the place,” he added.

“ I just want to say thank you to all the Swindon fans, and to every supporter, I want to say thank you because they pushed us last season more than they know. 

“I’m grateful even to those fans who don’t like me,” said Woolery.

His arrival at Swindon Town made Kaiyne Woolery the clubs 10th most expensive signing ever, as his transfer from Wigan Athletic signalled the start of David Flitcroft’s tenure at the club. 

When asked how he viewed his time at Swindon, Woolery was honest, explaining how he felt he could’ve scored more goals during his three seasons in Wiltshire.

“I’ll be the first to admit I could’ve scored more goals and could’ve done a lot better,” said Woolery.

“I was brought in as a striker but was usually put on the wing and I had to learn that role on the job. 

“Last season I did ok and wish my time would’ve been better but on a whole, I really enjoyed my time there,” he added.

“I’ve made great friendships in Swindon and will be friends with some of those people for life. 

I came to get promotion and we achieved that and I’m happy,” he said.

A tumultuous few years for Swindon saw Woolery play under three different managers during his time at the club, eventually ending with Richie Wellens taking the side to the heights of the third division after lifting the League Two trophy last season. 

And the frequent changing of managerial staff is something that Woolery said was hard to adjust to.

“It disrupts the whole team as each manager had a different style of play,” explained Woolery.

“When Richie came in he stamped down the style and everybody wanted to play like that. 

“As you can see from our results we played football and were the dominant team last season. 

"The right man got brought in at the end,” he added.

“He had the identity and had a lot of time for players. 

“He believed in me more than I believed in myself. He said that to me and told me I could be so much more. 

“I probably frustrated him a bit and I’ll be the first to admit I could’ve done a lot better,” said Woolery.

His final season at Swindon Town saw 25-year-old Woolery achieve what he originally came to the club to do as Swindon won promotion to League One. 

Looking back on last season, Woolery said it was a special team to play in, admitting the memories will stay with him forever.

“It was so enjoyable, especially to be in a winning team,” said Woolery.

“Everyone was fighting for each other and if we lost everyone would put 100% in to fix that.

“There was big competition across every position and I think that only helped us. 

“You’ve always got to work as hard as you can if you want to play in a team like that,” finished Woolery.