WELL what a season it has been for everyone connected with Swindon.

When the board opted to make the brave decision to appoint Paolo Di Canio as the club’s new manager, everyone expected it to be a rollercoaster of a ride.

It has certainly proved just that and more and the season has contained more drama both on and off the pitch than an episode of Footballers’ Wives.

Thankfully the highs have considerably outweighed the lows and in fact, the one true lowlight of the season has probably helped turn the club into the force they are today.

That night when Leon Clarke showed such a display of public insubordination had many concerned about what the future may hold.

The star signing of the season was demanding out of the club and Town had just lost their fifth game from seven played in August.

I remember in the post-match interview for that game, when interim chairman Jerermy Wray was tasked with facing the media to explain the incident.

He looked crestfallen.

Wray had been wise enough to recognise the need for a drastic change that would capture the imagination of the fans following relegation, and Di Canio’s appointment had certainly done that.

It has transpired over the course of the season that Wray and Di Canio effectively held crisis talks after that incident, the outcome from which was that they agreed to move forward together.

Di Canio did the same with his players following the Southampton defeat and they quickly showed a new level of unity in the following games.

It is no coincidence that since then Town have been the force of League Two and Di Canio has been backed all the way in whatever he has needed to put together the side that now sits proudly at the top of League Two.

Tomorrow’s game is an added bonus. To lift silverware at this stage of the season is the least Di Canio, his players and the board deserve and, whatever the result, it should be a celebration of what has been achieved over the last 10 months.

Each and every member of the Town squad has contributed to the club getting to where they are now and their efforts have to be applauded.

Time and again they have responded from a bad performance or result in a positive fashion, as Tuesday night’s comfortable win over title rivals Torquay proved, and few would bet against them claiming a league and cup double this season.

This is an exciting time to be a Town fan, one that many say is up there with the seasons under Lou Macari and Glenn Hoddle.

Recent acquisitions of Lee Holmes, Jay McEveley and John Bostock suggests the board have every intention of continuing those exciting times into next season.

But for now, Town fans have the luxury of enjoying what should be a nerveless end to a magical season.