Mark Kennedy has spoken of his excitement for Swindon Town to bring in a trio of late signings at the end of the transfer window.

Swindon made a late swoop for Gavin Kilkenny on a two-year deal from AFC Bournemouth, a permanent move for Danny Butterworth, and a loan move for Norwich City goalkeeper Dan Barden.

Kennedy said that the two midfield pieces that Swindon have added should help them to play a more possession-based style and add further creativity.

He said: “I am really pleased to get Gav in, he has been a real priority for me for a long time, you don’t want to air your views in public but he is someone I have admired for a long time and I have tried to sign him before.

“Technically he is very good and has a great game understanding, he is not six foot but he has got a six-foot heart, he wants the ball and demands the ball and he can handle the physical side of the game.

“Hopefully we will have one more midfielder in this afternoon [Butterworth].”

Swindon have also brought in a goalkeeper in Barden having been searching for competition for Jack Bycroft all along and Kennedy is hoping that competition will get the best out of both of them.

He said: “I don’t want people to fill spaces, Dan is not coming in as a number two, he is coming in to push Jack and it will be every man for himself.

“Jack is our number one and we value him highly, he has got the jersey and if he carries on doing what he is doing then he will stay in the team as he is a fantastic talent.

“But if people come off the button and they are not quite at it and people go past them then that is great, that isn’t just for Jack but for every player at the club, I have always said that.

“What I am trying to say is that we have not brought Dan in as a back-up, he has come in to push Jack and I have said to him that I feel like we have two first-team ‘keepers.

“For me, Dan’s physical presence is very important because that is what the league determines, set pieces are high and even Notts County, who are a possession-based team, have got a long throw-in.

“I want ‘keepers who are shot-stoppers and come and catch crosses.”