FOUR trialists training with the Swindon Town squad will be judged by Phil Brown during the club’s pre-season games at Cirencester and Melksham next week.
Martin Smith, Lloyd Sam, Maxwell Oldham and Jordan Williams have all joined in with Phil Brown and Neil McDonald's first training sessions ahead of the club’s busy pre-season schedule – which includes home games against Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion as well as trips to Chippenham and Swindon Supermarine.
Former defender Jamie Sendles-White, who left Town last summer after the expiry of his contract, was also invited to attend training today.
But the performance of the trialists on the training ground is of little interest to Brown, who will decide the fate of his four trialists following the club’s fixture at Melksham on Saturday, July 7.
Assistant boss Neil McDonald had a big say in Brown drafting in midfielder Martin Smith, who spent last season at Northern Irish club Coleraine.
Brown said: “Neil has worked with Martin before and he said to me if I’m looking for a midfield player than don’t look any further than him.
“He’s got great habits and has been brought up the right way by a couple of very good friends of mine at Sunderland in Ged McNamee and Kevin Ball.
“He’s that type of player that will put a foot in.”
Winger Lloyd Sam meanwhile joins the Town squad in pre-season training having spent last season at AFC Wimbledon following time in the States with the New York Red Bulls.
“Lloyd has worked with some great players and coaches,” said Brown.
“Not just that but he came to England to show people he can play at a high level.
“He’s played at Notts County and AFC Wimbledon. And the assistant manager at Wimbledon who is a good friend of mine told me he’s a player. It’s a no brainer inviting him in.”
Meanwhile Maxwell Oldham forced his attention upon Brown having written to him during the summer months while Jordan Williams is a familiar face to the Town boss, who used to work with the youngster at Southend.
Brown added: “I’ve invited Maxwell in despite not knowing too much about the lad.
“I was going to see him play in the Conifa World Football Cup that was on in London over the summer, but I just missed out on one of the games that was at Barnet.
“He got player of the tournament and was man of the match of a couple of occasions. He’s willing to come here and show us what he can do.
“Jordan Williams is the fourth, I had him at Southend.
“He’s a young tenacious defender that has been on at Bristol Rovers since he left Southend.
“They’re the four I’m having a look at, but I won’t make a decision on those before we’ve played Cirencester and Melksham.”
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