Swindon Town have brought in physical centre-back Tom Broadbent from Bristol Rovers despite the Gas management hoping he would stay.
The defender joined Rovers last summer when he signed out of the army and he was an immediate hit with the fans. Good in the air and carrying a real sense of determination Bristol Rovers were hoping they could persuade the player to stay.
How have Swindon pulled this off? Some key things you should know…
- Tom Broadbent arrived at the Memorial Stadium after signing out of the army where he spent six years.
- He was popular with the fans at Rovers for his never say die attitude.
- He only started 23 games during his time at with the club often behind the likes of Tom Lockyer in the pecking order.
- Gas boss Graham Coughlan admitted he wanted Broadbent to stay.
- Swindon announced they have signed the 27-year-old on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The centre-back is Swindon’s fifth signing since the window opened and follows Portsmouth Danny Rose through the door.
Richie Wellens will be looking to build for a longer term push at promotion with the Robins struggling for consistency this season.
This signing of Broadbent is a further sign that the club are looking to build a squad that will give Wellens a strong spine to work with going forward.
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That's two in two days.
Tom Broadbent signs from @Official_BRFC on a permanent deal.
👉 https://t.co/kSKmHS9NJE#STFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/JJXYJ0qTIg
— Swindon Town FC (@Official_STFC) January 18, 2019
The Robins have some exciting players with the likes of Keshi Anderson, Kaiyne Woolery and young starlet Sol Pryce but they perhaps need more grit if they are to succeed in League Two.
Tom Broadbent adds the kind of character that will surely help Swindon become harder to beat over the coming month, something not lost on his previous manager Graham Coughlan.
“We are obviously disappointed to see Tom move on. Given his background, coming from the armed forces, we would have liked to have him around for the fight between now and the end of the season,” the manager told the Rovers website.
“We tried to change his decision, but this move has been in the works for a few weeks and he leaves with our best wishes for the future.”
The defender was delighted to have got the deal over the line and admitted he hopes to help Swindon back to the next level.
“I’m happy to be honest – I just can’t wait to get playing. It’s a lovely ground and a big club and it should be in a higher league,” he told the club upon signing.
“We’re not far off the play-offs so hopefully we can have a good second half of the season and challenge.”
Other players to have joined the Robins during the winter window have been Canice Carroll on loan from Brentford, a full-back who came through the ranks at Oxford United, Ben House from Reading and Ali Koiki from Burnely also both on loan.
D3D4’s view
Personally I think this is an excellent addition to the Swindon squad. Broadbent would likely have played more regularly at Bristol Rovers but for the quality players who also played his position.
I am a big fan of Richie Wellens and like the gengen press style he tries to employ. His success depends on the club giving him the backing to sign the players he wants to bring in, something he didn’t get at Oldham, and the Broadbent and Rose deals are both positive signs that the club are behind their man.
If they can’t form a play-off challenge this season, seeing Alzate and Adebayo return to their parent clubs is not ideal, then they should certainly be one to watch next year.