Swindon Town have changed plans for Saturday’s friendly at Forest Green Rovers and will not be sending their first‑team squad after a prolonged pre‑season injury crisis.
Decision taken to protect senior players
The club confirmed the move after further injuries were picked up during Tuesday’s friendly with Leyton Orient. Managerial staff and the medical team held detailed discussions before deciding to field a Swindon Town XI in Gloucestershire rather than risk more senior players ahead of their Carabao Cup first‑round tie against Cardiff City on 8 August.
"Following careful consideration after an unprecedented number of injuries during our 2026/27 pre‑season campaign, the Club has made the decision to field a Swindon Town XI for this Saturday's fixture against Forest Green Rovers."
The club acknowledged supporters may have already bought tickets or travelled and said it wanted the fixture to go ahead in some capacity. It added the decision aimed to "protect our first‑team players" ahead of the cup match.
How the injury list looks
Swindon are currently coping with a string of absences across the squad. The most prominent confirmed problems include:
- James Ball – hamstring tear, sidelined for three to four weeks
- Gavin Kilkenny – left the Leyton Orient game on crutches
- Joel McGregor, Joe Snowdon, Harry Smith and Ollie Clarke – all described as struggling
- Fletcher Holman – seen a surgeon about a Grade 3C hamstring tear, with an unspecified period out under consideration
Club communications noted that Clarke and Snowdon are expected to return to training this week and could potentially be available by the weekend, though the precautionary approach remains in place.
| Player | Condition/status |
|---|---|
| James Ball | Hamstring tear – 3–4 weeks out |
| Gavin Kilkenny | Injured (on crutches after Leyton Orient match) |
| Joel McGregor | Struggling with injury |
| Joe Snowdon | Struggling – expected to return to training this week |
| Ollie Clarke | Struggling – expected to return to training this week |
| Fletcher Holman | Grade 3C hamstring tear – under surgical review |
The club said two further injuries were sustained on Tuesday evening, prompting the decision. The move reflects a growing concern among coaching and medical staff that the number of unavailable players could undermine preparations for competitive fixtures.
Supporters and next steps
Swindon’s statement expressed regret for any frustration this change might cause among supporters but stressed the priority remains having a fit, competitive squad for the league and cup season. Supporters with questions about tickets or travel arrangements are likely to be directed to the club’s official channels for guidance.
With the competitive calendar approaching, the club will continue to monitor recovery timelines and make further selections based on medical advice. The immediate focus is minimising further risk to senior players while still providing a fixture for fans this weekend.
