Michael Flynn is looking to strengthen the spine of Swindon Town

Michael Flynn said that he is focusing on improving the spine of the Swindon Town team in the transfer market. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam spoke to the new manager ahead of pre-season.

Swindon have retained 19 members of the squad that finished 10th in League Two last season, but Flynn is looking to make the squad more to his liking.

Town had the second lowest average age in the division last season, 23.7, and Flynn said he would be looking to add greater experience to the spine of his team.

Flynn said: “I am looking through the spine of the team at the minute, that is as much as I will go into [as far as targets].

“I think that it is quite a young squad, you have Charlie [Austin] there and he is vital with his experience and his knowledge of being in successful changing rooms.

“I would like to add a few more of those kinds of players, who can help the younger lads, not just this season but help them progress in their careers.

“I am experienced, and I am going to wait for the right targets, I am not just going to sign somebody just because they have experience, for example.

“They have to be the right fit for Swindon Town and for me and for the group, because that is the most important thing.

“I have a very good knowledge of League Two squads and players; you don’t know every bit of detail, but you know somebody who does and you do your research.”

Swindon are part of a select group of teams who are yet to sign a player so far this summer, but Flynn said that the money being spent by Town’s League Two rivals has been at unsustainable levels.

Flynn said: “The money is available for us, but the market is a little bit slow at the minute and I think the deals which have gone through have been over-inflated in terms of wages.

“I’m experienced at this; I’ll wait for the right target and the right deal for the football club and the most important thing that the owners will want to know is that I know how to manage a budget.

“I am going to be honest and say that I think this will be the strongest League Two that I can remember because there are a lot of teams spending a lot a lot of money.

“When I say a lot of money, I am being serious and I don’t know how long it can last, but a lot of these clubs have wealthy owners now.

“It has been proven that money doesn’t always buy you success, but we will make sure that we are competitive in terms of our budget.

“We have a talented squad so far and if we can get the players in that I am trying to get in then we will have a very talented squad.”