Swindon Town will be heading into the summer break in a positive state of mind after their decision to bring in Ian Holloway as manager paid them significant dividends.
Swindon were 22nd in League Two and in danger of being pulled into a fight to avoid demotion to non-league when they hired Holloway at the end of October.
But under the veteran former QPR and Blackpool manager, Swindon pulled themselves comfortably clear of the drop zone and into mid-table with a second half to their league season which saw them lose just four League games in 2025, ending the season in 12th place in the final League Two table.
Considering this form and the turnaround seen under Holloway, fans will be optimistic that they can do even better next time around.
Swindon’s 2024/25 Before & After Ian Holloway’s Appointment
Played
Won
Drew
Lost
Points
Position
Pre-Appointment
13
2
5
6
11
22nd
Post-Appointment
33
13
12
8
51
12th
Figures from 11 vs 11
Joe Westley had a successful half-season at The County Ground
Striker Joe Westley certainly had an immediate impact for Swindon upon his arrival on a half-season loan from Burnley in the January transfer window. He made his debut for them away to Newport County in January, coming off the bench after 63 minutes and scoring the winning goal just twelve minutes later.
He would go on to score a further two goals for the club throughout the second half of the season, as the Robins pulled clear of a relegation flight and into mid-table.
Son of the former Stevenage, Preston and Peterborough manager, Graham Westley, he first signed for Burnley in 2021 and previously had short loan spells in the National League with AFC Fylde and Rochdale before making the step-up into League Two with Swindon at the start of this year.
Westley should be snapped up by the Robins
FLW spoke to Swindon fan pundit Jamie Day and asked him to name one realistic signing that he’d love Swindon to make this summer and why.
“I know there will be fans within the club who may not think he’s all that, but from what I’ve seen of him, he may not have scored that many goals in his loan spell with us,” he replied. “But I can see a lot of room for potential in that player.
“He seems like a very intelligent footballer when he’s not on the ball, and some of the finishes he has made for us have been quite smart, so he clearly knows where the net is and I think if you’ve got a striker like Harry Smith up front for us already, and he’s one of the – if not the – best strikers in the League, then you’ve got a very good opportunity to learn from someone who knows where the net is, knows how to be in dangerous positions, and knows how to be a striker.”
At just 20 years old, Westley has already made his mark at The County Ground this season. The question now is whether he’ll be back at Swindon next time around to try and do even better.
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