2013–14 Swindon Town F.C. season
The 2013–14 season will be Swindon Town's second consecutive season in the League One since gaining promotion from League Two in 2012. Swindon will seek to better the 2012–13 season, a campaign that resulted in the Wiltshire club finishing 6th overall and losing in the Play-offs to Brentford at the semi-final stage. Alongside the league campaign, Swindon Town will also compete in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The 2013–14 campaign was scheduled to be Kevin MacDonald's first full season as manager of Swindon Town after  replacing Paolo Di Canio in February 2012 but the Scotsman resigned during pre-season. Tottenham Hotspur link up. Throughout 2013, Swindon Town seemingly built a close working relationship with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Massimo Luongo, Nathan Byrne and Dean Parrett joined on loan deals during the closing stages of the 2012–13 season and the partnership grew during the 2013 close season. This included Spurs loaning and transferring players to Swindon, friendly fixtures being arranged between the two clubs and members of the Tottenham coaching staff being linked to the managerial position after Kevin MacDonald's exit from Swindon Town . In December 2013, owner Lee Power announced that there was no special relationship Spurs. The 2013 manager search. On 13 July 2013 manager Kevin MacDonald resigned from his post as manager citing "personal reasons". This sparked a flurry of media interest as the Wiltshire club began their search for a new manager. A recent but significant link with Spurs results in several of their coaches being linked with the vacancy (Tim Sherwood, Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey) while the Swindon Advertiser reported that former player Martin Ling was interested in the role. The local media order linked Danish duo Peter  Schmeichel and John Jensen along with Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale. The national media linked Kenny Shiels while Paul Hartley, Neil Warnock, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Trollope and Stuart Pearce were rated among the favourites on Bookmaker listings. After five and a half weeks without making an appointment, caretaker manager Mark Cooper is given the role on a permanent basis, signing a two-year contract. Pre-season. Between 2006 and 2012, Swindon Town spent time during their pre-season schedule abroad in the Balearic Islands, Austria and Italy. The 2013/14 schedule started in England with friendlies arranged with Swindon Supermarine (away ), Banbury United (away), Forest Green Rovers (away) which were followed by home ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City. An away trip against Cirencester Town completed the scheduled along with Development XI friendlies at Devizes Town and Fairford Town. It was later announced that Swindon would spend a week in Portugal from 21 July. Two friendlies would also be arranged. Pre-season began with a comfortable 3–1 victory at Swindon Supermarine. However, this was followed by a poor 2–0 defeat at Banbury United where Kevin MacDonald criticised the standard of the Oxfordshire outfit's pitch. Swindon Town got back to  winning ways as a Development side beat Devizes Town 5–0 at Nursteed Road. Days later, Town faced Non-League side Forest Green Rovers who easily beat Swindon 2–0. Reports begin to circulate that manager Kevin MacDonald is set to resign from his post and this is confirmed 24 hours later citing "personal reasons" for his exit and assistant Mark Cooper is named Caretaker manager. League One. The fixture list for the 2013/14 campaign was announced on 19 June 2013. It was announced that the Wiltshire outfits first game of the season would take place against Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United  at London Road on 3 August 2013. The League Cup. On 12 June 2013 it was confirmed that Swindon Town had been seeded for the first round of the competition. It was later announced that Swindon would face Football League Two outfit Torquay United in the opening round of the competition. Club information. Non-playing staff. In December 2013, Swindon Town changed ownership with Lee Power replacing Jed McCrory. Squad statistics. Hat-tricks. Includes all competitive matches. Swindon Town Development. In June 2011 it was announced that Swindon Town would not compete in a Reserve League for the 2011/12 season  and would therefore arrange friendlies with other clubs and this continued during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 campaigns. Swindon Town U18. The Swindon Town U18 side compete in the Youth Alliance (South West Conference) alongside local rivals Oxford United and Bristol Rovers.<ref name="Youth Alliance fixtures 2013/14"></ref>