SWINDON Town manager Michael Flynn knows better than most that the Robins’ result against Colchester United on Saturday will not define the club’s season, no matter what happens.

Town head to the JobServe Community Stadium this weekend looking to kick off their 2023/24 League Two season with a ninth opening-day victory in the past 10 attempts.

But while they have often begun well over the course of the past decade, Swindon have ended the season with mixed results.

Town have won League Two, reached a League One play-off final, lost out in a play-off semi-final, and suffered two relegations as well as racking up a few mid-table finishes.

Meanwhile, Flynn himself has led Newport County to a play-off final following a 3-0 reverse against Mansfield Town on matchday one in 2018/19. He was also sacked by Walsall despite leading the Saddlers to a 4-0 thumping of Hartlepool United in the first game of last season.

Therefore, in Flynn’s mind, he knows it’s not how you start but how you finish.

The Town boss said: “A good performance usually means three points on the opening day.

“But like you say, things are fresh still. Teams are still bringing in players, so you haven’t finalised everything and brought everyone to the same page, so to speak.

“As for my record on the opening day – I don’t really know actually. I remember getting thumped at Mansfield with Newport, but we won 4-0 with Walsall last year.

“I don’t really think too much about opening day because the one year we lost and ended up getting to the play-off final and last year, when we won 4-0, I got sacked!

“So I don’t really think the result on the opening day means anything.”

Opponents Colchester have drawn seven of their past 10 first games back, winning just one, but head into Saturday’s opener with a degree of positivity thanks to new boss, Ben Garner.

The ex-Swindon manager has overhauled the U’s squad while keeping hold of talents, Noah Chilvers and Junior Tchamadeu and will be keen to improve on last year’s lowly finish.

Flynn admitted he is unsure exactly how Colchester will set up against his side this weekend but feels his group must simply concentrate on themselves if they are to claim a first win in seven attempts away in north Essex.

Flynn said: “Ben’s teams like to play football, usually. I’m not 100 per cent sure how they’re going to go.

“We’ve watched them numerous times over pre-season. They’ve got a big team, so it’s going to be physical. I think they’ll be good at set plays, but we’ve just got to play our game.

“It’s going to be difficult down at Colchester – it always is – but it’s the start of the season, so I’d rather get there early than later on in the season because the pitch will be nice.”