Top 3: Who should leave SN1 in the January transfer window?

The January transfer window is drawing ever closer and as clubs put in place their transfer plans for the winter period, Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his analysis on what players are likely to leave Swindon Town.

Marc Richards
 
At the age of 36, the career of Marc Richards is quickly ticking towards its end. But at a time when money is everything in the World of football, Swindon Town would do well to offload Richards in January with an aim to increase their transfer budget and cut wages. Arriving at the club on a free transfer during the David Flitcroft era, the veteran striker has struggled to deliver the goals that Swindon have needed.
 
Having featured for eleven clubs during his professional career and racking up 200 goals, Richards is a striker with a strong record of goalscoring, however with experience comes age and unfortunately, it appears that time is catching up with the Swindon attacker.
 
Just two goals all season and appearing slow and lacking in confidence highlights that Richards isn’t the striker that Town need and if Swindon can offload their number nine in January then they should do so.
 
Olly Lancashire
 
During his time at Swindon Town, Olly Lancashire has endured the highs of being made club Captain, and the lows of being made the club scapegoat when things go wrong. However, after being fazed out of the starting team since Richie Wellens was made the manager, the time is soon approaching for Lancashire to leave the club.
 
Admittedly, the question as to whether the current skipper should leave in January entirely depends on Swindon’s ability to keep on-loan centre-back, Sid Nelson. But should Town be successful in keeping Nelson then the winter transfer period presents the Wiltshire club with the perfect opportunity to offload the defence.
 
Signing for Swindon in 2017, the former Southampton player has failed to provide security in the heart of defence for Swindon whilst his frequency of giving the ball away and panicked defending often leaves Swindon fans nervous when he is on the ball. Lancashire is committed to the club and appears to represent a small handful of current players willing to fight for the shirt, but defenders are needed if Swindon are to fight for promotion this season.
 
Jak McCourt
 
Arriving in the most recent transfer window on a free transfer after being released from Chesterfield, Jak McCourt is perhaps the most surprising inclusion on the list. But having started only five league games for Swindon this season, the out-of-form midfielder could be facing an early exit.
 
Brought to SN1 by the recently removed Phil Brown, McCourt was expected to bolster the engine room of a Swindon side aiming for promotion. But poor performances have seen the 23-year-old fall out of favour with Richie Wellens and with just under six months remaining on his contract, Town may be better of cutting their losses early and lowering their wage bill.
 
McCourt will be determined to find stability in a wayward playing career having already worn the shirt of seven different clubs, but it appears his future will not be at The County Ground. Poor with possession, slow build-up play and troublesome injuries have made his time at Swindon a turbulent one and now the clock is ticking towards his departure.