Williams admits 'mistake' in not adding to the squad

Swindon Town manager Luke Williams admits he takes responsibility for not strengthening his squad and adding to the Town ranks during the January transfer window.

Following recent defeats to Wigan Athletic and Scunthorpe United, an outside shot at making the League One play-off positions now appears all but over.

Speaking this week to BBC Radio Wiltshire, the Swindon boss admitted his decision to maintain his current squad during the window was perhaps a mistake, in hindsight.

Williams said: "I think it's something I have to take plenty of blame for, because during the transfer window I was adamant that we had the players in the building that, given the opportunity, they would all step up and be able to able to survive, even with injury to key players, and potentially that was a mistake."

Loss of players through injury and suspension has hampered the Robins, who were without usual defensive duo Nathan Thompson and Jamie Sendles-White for the Easter Monday humiliation in Scunthorpe.

Commenting on this, Williams admitted this was not something he foresaw, but did believe others in the squad would step up if this did become the case.

Williams said: "I didn't think in my mind we would lose so many important players all at the same time, but maybe that was naive.

"People in the squad, I expected if this did happen they would come in and they would be able to perform to a high standard and I may have got that one wrong," he added.

Though the tides have turned rough for Swindon Town, Williams insists chairman Lee Power is still fully behind the efforts, and an integral part of the decision making team.

"The chairman has been excellent, he's part of the team. Of course, no decision, no suggestion of mine is absolute, we are a team. I gave my suggestions during the transfer window that I felt we had strength in depth, albeit young players.

"I was backing them to step up fully. The chairman expressed his concerns but ultimately we made the decision not to bring in players during that window.

"The only one we brought in really was Jamie Sendles-White, which I think was the only one we could both agree was exactly the right type of player and person that we wanted to bring in.

"The chairman has been very supportive as you would expect and what you need at times of crisis, you need everybody to pull together," Williams added.

Swindon Town are next in action on Saturday, April 2, when they face Fleetwood at the County Ground. Kick-off 3.00pm.