Ian Holloway has brought a sports psychologist back to Swindon Town to help the players' mindset. The manager has re-engaged the consultant who worked at the club during Ben Garner's tenure in a bid to improve performance and morale.
Holloway pointed to past incidents as a reason for the move, specifically referencing midfielder Darren Oldaker. He said a breakdown in their relationship last season taught him about player management, revealing Oldaker felt let down after a confrontation with a supporter. Holloway stated he had to tell the player he was not in the right mental state to play at that time.
Building confidence
The manager is also working closely with winger Joseph Hungbo to build his self-belief. Holloway, who was at Crystal Palace when Hungbo was a highly-rated youngster there, said dealing with such early expectations can leave a mark on a player. He confirmed Hungbo is now speaking with the psychologist for additional support and feedback as part of an ongoing process.
This psychological focus comes with Swindon Town sitting 13th in League Two on 11 points after nine games. Their recent form shows just one draw in the last five matches, a run that includes last week's 1-0 defeat at Rochdale.
Holloway sees his role as maintaining positivity and is seeking new solutions. He will hope for a boost with three players set to return from injury for the next game. Swindon Town host third-placed Crewe at the County Ground this Saturday, aiming to turn their season around.
