Mark Kennedy is not buying the existence of a new manager bounce ahead of Swindon Town facing Carlisle United and new boss Mike Williamson.

Following the departure of Paul Simpson four games into the new season, The Blues have struggled so far with just one win from six and have turned to former Milton Keynes Dons boss Williamson to guide a team with the talent to compete at the top end of the division.

Swindon faced off against many teams in the midst of a transition to a new manager last season and will come up against it again this weekend, but Kennedy is not buying the concept.

He said: “If players are trying harder for a new boss then they should be ashamed of themselves.

“I think that the bounce is pretty obvious but if you looked into the stats and really delved into it, I think you could find a million clubs where nothing happens but I think when you get the bounce it seems to be in the media a little bit more.

“As a professional footballer, you are paid to work your heart and soul off for the club first and foremost whoever is in charge – even if you don’t like the manager.

“I can’t speak for anybody else but that is how I see it.”

However, despite not believing that Carlisle will immediately earn a big boost from having a new man in the dugout, Kennedy did say that it has changed preparations for the match.

He said: “It is very difficult and it certainly changes things, my preference would have been for the manager to come in on Monday, next Monday or Monday just gone rather than coming in on Thursday.

“We have just been out training so I didn’t know [they had made the announcement], so I haven’t had time to think about it.

“I would imagine that there are lots of things he likes already and I would imagine that there are several things that he will be able to get across in his first couple of days.

“I am guessing that Carlisle have identified someone with a particular style and brand that they identify with themselves.

“I think that Mike has had an outstanding journey so far and I think Carlisle have got an outstanding coach, so good luck to them but can he come in and reinvent the wheel in two days? I don’t think anybody can do that.”