Football Manager predicts how Swindon Town's season will go

Predicting the future is impossible, but The Adver decided to use Football Manager 24 to see how they thought the season might go for Town, by starting as an unemployed manager and simulating to the end of the season to see what would happen.

The answer was not the most positive, as the real-life season’s recent tailspin seeped into the entirety of the season, as Town scraped across the line and had their second worst-ever Football League season by finishing 21st in the fourth tier.

Only in 1932-33 have Swindon finished lower (Image: Sports Interactive)

There were no real fears of relegation for Town despite their lowly league position, sitting 12 points clear of Newport County and Crewe Alexandra in the drop zone.

After a good opening two games it was all downhill (Image: Sports Interactive)

Town also ended the season with a different manager than they started it with as Michael Flynn was given his marching orders in January after a run of just one win in 16 matches, with Clem Morfuni finally pulling the trigger after a 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers.

The Welshman was replaced by former Vancouver Whitecaps and Falkirk manager Martin Rennie, who was not really able to cure Swindon’s heartburn.

Flynn was replaced in January after a tough run of form (Image: Sports Interactive)

Despite winning his first two games in charge against Bradford City and Newport, Town limped across the line, including losing seven games in a row in March and April, before picking up a win on the final day to end that run.

Looking at the January transfer window, Swindon were able to keep hold of Dan Kemp and Jake Young but hopes of reinforcements were not particularly forthcoming.

Swindon only made two signings in January (Image: Sports Interactive)

Presumably because of the doubts over allowing Flynn to spend the budget, Town waited until deadline day to make a signing, when a pair of centre-backs in Henry Fieldson and Manny Monthe arrived on loan from Sunderland and Northampton Town respectively.

Monthe made 11 appearances but failed to pull up many trees with a 6.4 average match rating, and Fieldson was a disaster, failing to make a competitive appearance during his six months with the club.

The only major positive of the season was a better showing in the cup competitions, knocking MK Dons out in the Carabao Cup before falling in the second round against Charlton Athletic, and Swindon got to the FA Cup Third Round with a pair of wins against Non-League sides Darlington and Oldham Athletic, before being knocked out by Burton Albion.