Brown reads the riot act to Robins
SWINDON manager Phil Brown believes the club need a dramatic culture change after the Robins had their play-off hopes dashed by Grimsby.
Brown was brought into the role after former boss David Flitcroft left to join Mansfield but the ex-Hull chief has failed in his mission to get Swindon promoted.
A first-half penalty from Mitch Rose was enough to see Grimsby edge closer to safety at the other end of the table.
And Brown thinks there needs to be a culture shift at the County Ground.
He said: “We shouldn’t be in this position, but until we get players that understand what it takes to play for Swindon, we will still be a League Two club next year.
“But we have to have a culture at the football club that we all buy in to and that includes the supporters, the owner and the players.
“The culture has to change 100 per cent. The mentality of the group has to change. I don’t think enough of us sacrifice enough to get the most of our football careers.”
Swindon thought they had taken the lead in the 30th minute when striker Paul Mullin converted a Keshi Anderson centre, only for it to be disallowed by the officials for a handball.
The home side kept applying the pressure though and came close through Marc Richards moments later but he could only rifle his effort agonisingly against the bar.
Then just before half-time, Grimsby were awarded a penalty when Ryan McGivern fouled Harry Cardwell in the box.
Rose stepped up to convert the spot-kick to net for the third consecutive game, taking his tally for the season to eight. Swindon’s best chance of an equaliser came in the 52nd minute when Anderson had his teasing shot saved by Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown.
Despite being five points clear of the relegation zone, Grimsby manager Michael Jolley is resting yet, insisting he doesn’t think his side are safe yet.
Jolley said: “It is a great result, but there is still some important work ahead of us.
“I believe in this group and I believe they have the right mindset to get us over the line.
“If they keep working as they have then we have a good chance.
“We have two games left and want to finish as strongly as we can.
“There is a massive job in getting the points to stay up. We need to keep our momentum going into next week.”