Byrne: We need someone in quick

Caretaker boss David Byrne believes the appointment of a new manager needs to made as quickly as possible after Swindon Town slipped deeper into the relegation mire on Saturday, writes James McNamara.

Town extended a winless run to 10 games after the 3-2 defeat against Yeovil at the County Ground to remain outside of the bottom four only courtesy of goal difference.

Supporters vented their frustrations with a chorus of boos after the six week wait for a permanent successor to Maurice Malpas was extended following a failure to finalise the widely-anticipated appointment of Richard Money on Friday.

The Newcastle Academy Director had agreed terms on a two-and-a-half year deal to take the helm after the Town board decided against giving the job to former County Ground stalwart David Hockaday – but the move was scuppered at the last minute after the Magpies demanded a sum of around £100,000 in compensation.

Town chief Andrew Fitton was still believed to be working on a deal to try and secure Money's release last night, but County Ground sources have indicated that the move is now almost certainly dead. The side now face a crucial week with back-to-back games against fellow strugglers Leyton Orient and Brighton, and Byrne is hopeful that the managerial situation will be resolved urgently.

He said: "I speak to the chairman and the directors on a daily basis but not about the managerial situation because it is nothing to do with me.

"It is a situation that is totally out of my hands and is something the board are dealing with. All I will say is that the sooner we put the situation to bed and draw a line under it the better.

"We need someone in now who is going to galvanise us and help take us out of the quagmire we are in."

Former Bristol City manager Danny Wilson is now believed to be a leading contender – as exclusively revealed in the Daily Press on Saturday – after registering an interest in the position following his departure from Hartlepool last week.

Town have suffered another setback, meanwhile, after skipper Hasney Aljofree had to be substituted in the 19th minute of Saturday's game with suspected knee ligament damage.

The extent of the injury will not be fully know until Aljofree goes to a specialist for a scan on the injured area this afternoon, but he is likely to be out for the next six weeks at least if initial fears are confirmed.