SWINDON hosted their annual sponsors evening last night as players, management and the board met fans and answered questions on all things Town at the County Ground.

All the players were in attendance along with Paolo Di Canio, his technical staff, chief executive Nick Watkins and interim chairman Jeremy Wray.

After a two-course meal and an auction, during which Di Canio successfully bid for a lanyard from the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final on Sunday, questions from sponsors and fans in attendance were answered.

During the 30-minute questions and answers session, skipper Paul Caddis, who was unable win his battle to be fit in time for the weekend, admitted that he is still a couple of weeks away from returning to full fitness after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury recently.

League Two Player of the Year Matt Ritchie responded to a question on whether he will still be at Swindon next season with: “Yes definitely.”

Di Canio, meanwhile, explained his decision to include recent loan signings Jay McEveley and John Bostock in his squad for Sunday’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final defeat to Chesterfield.

“Jay is an experienced player and he would give me the quality I wanted,” he said.

“John is a player with quality who I feel can guarantee me to keep going and maybe be able to change things.

“That is the reason why I picked them.”

Meanwhile, Wray explained the difference between Di Canio and previous managers at the club, suggesting his attention to detail is why the Robins have performed so well in League Two this year.

“I believe that if you appoint a manager then you leave him to manage,” said Wray.

“Last year, if you were referring to Danny (Wilson) I would go to the manager’s office after we had lost a recent game and he would say, ‘don’t worry Jeremy we will get seven points from the next three games.’ “So you went away feeling good but then come back after another defeat and he would say, ‘we will be okay in the next two games.’ “Now, when I go and see Paolo after we have just won 3-0 he will say, ‘Jeremy I need three new players.’ “But it is this attention to detail and desire to succeed that has served us well this season.”

Finally, the Swindon Advertiser, who sponsor goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, were presented with the goalkeeper’s shirt.