"You want someone at the football club who's happy to walk away?" Swindon Town's Luke Williams responds to fans' backlash

Swindon Town head coach Luke Williams has issued a strong riposte to supporters that want him to resign from his role.

Williams and his side were on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline at relegation rivals Port Vale on Saturday and hopes of avoiding the drop now look dashed.

Swindon took the lead at Vale Park in the 35th minute with Nicky Ajose getting on the scoresheet for Swindon but less than a minute later the hosts were level which was an immediate punch to the gut for those donning red.

Vale then turned the score around in the second half, via JJ Hooper, and extended the advantage to 3-1 with another Hooper goal to all-but end Swindon hopes of a revival.

Luke Norris hit a late consolation but it was too little, too late for a Swindon side that also had Brad Barry sent off for a straight red card and earlier survived a scare when Anton Forrester blazed a Port Vale penalty over the bar. 

In his post-match press briefing, Williams said he is "very emotional and very upset" at a result that leaves the Robins in deep relegation trouble.

Swindon have now dropped to 22nd in the table, four points behind 20th-placed Oldham but Port Vale, now in 21st, have three games in hand over Town and the Latics.

Williams continued: "We appeared to do enough, certainly in the first period, to win the game so I'm very hurt and upset and disappointed."

The Swindon head coach then responded to sections of the away following calling for his head.

"I listened, with one ear, to some people saying 'walk away'. Really? You want someone at the football club who's happy to walk away? Is that what people want? They want somebody who's got no fight in their stomach and got no heart to try and be tough in situations and give everything?

"It's better to have someone who, at the first sign of trouble, walks away? It's not for me I'm afraid.

"I would rather suffer and try and look in the mirror and go to sleep at night than be a coward and walk away.

"If the fans believe (that) the way forward is to bring a coward in, then, unfortunately, it is not me."

Town are back in action as early as next Tuesday when they host League One leaders Sheffield United, with a 19:45 kick-off at the County Ground.