MATT Ritchie paid tribute to manager Paolo Di Canio’s impact on the club after Swindon Town emphatically secured the League Two title at home to Port Vale.

Ritchie’s thunderbolt from the edge of the area sent Town well on their way to a 5-0 victory which wrapped up the trophy, and the midfielder believes Di Canio’s tireless work has been vital in erasing the memories of relegation 12 months ago.

“Since he has come in he has picked everyone up because some players were on a downer after what happened last year,” he said.

“The board has backed him and he has brought in some good players and we have a great team.

“There is a great team spirit and a great work ethic and he has set superb standards around the whole club which everyone has kept, and winning the title shows how far that can get you.”

Ritchie was pleased to be able to secure the title and celebrate in front of more than 12,000 Swindon fans at the County Ground, which he believes was a perfect scenario.

“The fans were able to enjoy it properly because we won it at home, although I am not sure that was the plan when we lost at Gillingham, but the fans have enjoyed it, which is very important,” he said.

“I would not have said this a few weeks ago, but it was probably the best day for us to do it. I suppose it would have been nicer to get it wrapped up sooner, but to do it with that performance in front of so many fans was perfect.”

The midfielder was also pleased to find the net having not scored since the victory at Southend on Januray 31.

“It has been a little while and I was due one, so what a time it was to score,” he said.

“It was a great move down the right and Paul Caddis put a great ball in for John Bostock and he saw my run, and luckily enough it has gone in the top corner.

“The lads were brilliant during the whole game, and we showed why we were champions because it was a great performance.”