SWINDON Town are hoping to re-sign goalkeeper Lewis Ward just months after his departure to League Two rivals, Sutton United.

Last summer, Sol Brynn arrived on a season-long loan from Middlesbrough and was picked as Town's number one, causing frustration for Ward, who believed he may finally have won his chance to start regularly.

Following calls to leave and interest from League One Cambridge United, Ward was sold to Sutton on deadline day but made only 10 appearances before it was mutually agreed that his contract would be terminated early.

The 25-year-old has been spotted at the County Ground several times since leaving Sutton on January 31, and has been training with Town in a bid to stay fit and in preparation for potentially signing a short-term contract.

Following Swindon’s 2-1 defeat to Newport County at the weekend, Adver Sport asked head coach Jody Morris whether the club is looking to bring Ward back.

He said: “We are trying to get something done, but [as of Saturday] I have no clue about the developments regarding that.

“It’s definitely something we need to be doing, because I absolutely believe we need to have a senior back-up goalkeeper.

“It’s something that we wanted to do from the moment I arrived, something we’ve been trying to do, but there have been a couple of things holding it up.”

After Ward’s departure at the start of the season, Town brought in young stopper Conor Brann on a permanent deal following his release by League of Ireland club, Galway United.

The 19-year-old failed to make a first-team appearance for Swindon prior to sustaining a serious knee injury during a warm-down after the club’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat by Stockport County on November 4.

With his return date in a matter of months rather than weeks, Town called on an even younger goalkeeper to step up to the plate.

18-year-old Jack Copland – who had signed an extended scholar contract in May 2022 – was drafted into the Town squad for the 1-1 draw at home to Tranmere Rovers a week after Brann’s injury.

Copland has been on the bench ever since, although he did play in Swindon’s 3-1 victory over Chippenham Town in the Wiltshire Premier Shield last month – pulling off an excellent save late on.

Swindon will be hoping to tie up a deal for Ward prior to Saturday’s League Two clash with Doncaster Rovers at the County Ground.