Swindon Town are close to the departure of an unnamed young player on a loan deal as they look to give young players the chance to develop.

Following a wonderful season for the under-18s at Swindon, four players earned professional deals this summer, although we are yet to see any of them on the field so far this season, along with young defender Pharrell Johnson.

Speaking on Thursday, Mark Kennedy revealed that Town were preparing to allow one of their young stars out on loan to further their development.

He said: “I wouldn’t say that there is a pressure but it is really important that we get the young lads out there and playing.

“With one of the young lads we have agreed for them to go out today and I spoke to them and said ‘We rate you highly, we value you, but staying and sitting and training with me every day and the group of players will help in some way but if you marry it up against going out on loan and playing football week in, week out – it is chalk and cheese.’

“The player who goes out and plays on loan and experiences what a games programme looks like will be on another level in 12 months time.”

Kennedy added that with the talent that Swindon presently have in their young ranks, they are hoping to get them into a position where once current players move on, the replacement is already at the club.

He said: “I was saying to him that what we want to get to a situation in six or 12 months time that when people’s contracts are up or they move on and we go, ‘That is absolutely fine because Henry [Port, Head of Media and Communications] is ready.’

“I am saying Henry as an example because he is sitting next to me, but Henry would be ready to go whereas if he stays in with us for the next six months then he is not going to be anywhere near where he needs to be.

“Then we would turn around and say ‘Well, we have not really seen him in a game yet.’

“There is a lot of detail and understanding of why we send players on loan but particularly young players to go and get that experience of playing games.

“Credit to the club, as well, because we have had quite a few phone calls about a number of our players.”