Swindon Town manager Ian Holloway is setting high expectations for his team this season by ensuring that every player on the squad has signed a second contract. This move comes after a disappointing end to last season, with Holloway looking into ways to improve the team's preparation and performance in League Two.
After the Carabao Cup defeat at Cardiff City, Holloway revealed he had set out a series of commitments for both himself and his players that they had all agreed to stick to. 'It makes me frustrated because I miss the levels that I have managed at in the past, and I want to get there,' Holloway said.
He emphasized that these commitments are not just about being nice but about making sure everyone understands what is expected of them: 'I am not going to stop until they understand what I want, and I am not going to be nice about it; I am going to make them do it. If they don’t, then they won’t be here.'
The manager's approach involves a combination of his training methods and tactical approach, drawing on his roots in football. 'Every single one of them signed something in the dressing room,' Holloway stated. 'I wrote down what I am going to do for everybody, and I wanted them to agree with me. Every single one of them signed it.'
Holloway is determined to push his team towards higher standards: 'The contract that they have signed is not the contract that I want them to sign, and it is the contract that I want them to sign that matters.' He believes his players showed him what was needed even when mistakes were made during a recent match. 'I highlighted another area that we should have been better in, and it shocked all of them,' he added.
Looking ahead, Holloway remains optimistic about Swindon Town's prospects: 'You are where you are, but do you want to stay there? I don’t.' He aims to ensure the team is competitive at the top of League Two by focusing on areas that need improvement and working towards earning a better standing.
With this renewed commitment from his squad, Holloway hopes to drive Swindon Town towards achieving their goals for the upcoming season.
