Swindon Town are ‘in discussions’ to appoint impressive National League manager Dean Brennan, as replacement for Michael Flynn.
This is according to the Swindon Advertiser, with the club looking to finally find a permanent replacement for Flynn who left in the middle of January.
Since then, Gavin Gunning has been acting in the interim boss for the final 18 games of the season, but now they want Barnet boss Dean Brennan as their next head coach.
UPDATE (11th May): Dean Brennan have chosen to stay at Barnet.
The Bees wrote: “Following recent media speculation, Barnet FC would like to update supporters regarding Dean Brennan and the managerial position at Swindon Town FC.
“Earlier this week, Barnet FC made Dean Brennan aware that they had received an approach from Swindon Town requesting permission to speak with him.
“Dean would like to assure supporters that he remains fully committed to achieving Barnet FC’s goal of promotion to the EFL, and a significant amount of work has already taken place to enhance the squad for the new campaign.
“Dean and the Cclub continue to look forward to the season.”
Swindon Town are in discussions to appoint Barnet boss Dean Brennan, according to a source. The 43-year-old has been admired by Town for several months and is their preferred choice as the next head coach #STFC #BarnetFC https://t.co/cK7A5sJhxs
— Joe Acklam (@acklamjoe) May 10, 2024
The report adds that according to an undisclosed source, Swindon is considering hiring Brennan, 43, as their next manager, and in response to the news, a representative from the club confirmed that discussions between Swindon and Barnet regarding Brennan are still in progress.
Derek Adams and Gavin Gunning was thought to be the top contenders to replace Michael Flynn, but now it’s Brennan that has now become the top choice for the position, as the club has held him in high regard for several months.
It comes just weeks after he guided Barnet to a 2nd finish in the National League last season, with 86 points from 46 games played (W26, D8,L12, GF91, GA60), but then got eliminated from the playoff semi final against eventual runners up Solihull Moors.
Under his management, Barnet were one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, netting 91 goals, second only to Chesterfield, and the strong defence meant they had only five teams (Bromley, Altrincham, Halifax, Southend and Woking) conceded fewer goals than them. So it’s fair to say it was quite a shock when Barnet put in a poor display for the 4-0 defeat to Solihull in the playoff semi final.
Brennan has been in charge of Barnet for three seasons now and each of them impressive having been in the playoffs twice, including the 5th place finish in the 2022/23 season.
Brennan has been in the coaching game for 14 years having previously worked at various non league club, first as a caretaker manager at Hemel Hempstead Town aged 29 then became full-time manager in 2012 and led the team to a playoff final and achieved their highest-ever league finish in his first season.
The following season, he then guided to promotion to the National League South, winning it 10 point clear at the top.
The two seasons after that, Hemel comfortably avoiding relegation and narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
Brennan and his assistant, Stuart Maynard, now the head coach of Notts County, left for Billericay Town, though that saw him leave after less than four months.
He had a short stint with Kingstonian, lasting just five games in charge, then in May 2019, Brennan headed to Wealdstone and in the shortened 2019–20 season, Brennan led the club to automatic promotion to the National League, as champions of the National League South.
In December 2020, he turned down an approach from Barnet to be their manager, then in February 2021, Brennan resigned from his role at Wealdstone, with Maynard remaining at the club.
He resigned in February of their first season in the National League and later joined Barnet, where he’s impressed and came close to trying to get the Bees back into the EFL.
This is how fans reacted on Twitter with Swindon ‘in discussions’ to appoint the impressive National League manager…
@Crystall_Tips: Do negotiations include telling him we’re tinpot and have no money?
@rejamiesta: This could be a phenomenal appointment if we pull it off
@Scribblemilk: This would IMO be a great appointment, experienced, great style of play, knows how to score goals and how to keep a clean sheet, perfect timing for him to step up. I’d be very pleased with this.
@DeanMcMackin: Dean Brennan is a good shout and one I’d be happy with. It’s ok to be happy if they end up doing good things too 😀
@ncarowland: @Official_STFC you don’t need him, he’s useless and past it. Leave him to us
@STFCBEN12: Happy with that
@ashhorne107: No brainer 🤞🏻
@jettight19: Wasn’t expecting that one if we get him hope he does well
@sharpbe01: I think that’ll go down well tbh
@JonaOnDrums: Interesting one. Done well at several Non league clubs… & very close to getting Barnet over the line. I just think any Mgr will find it difficult here unless there’s sniff of a realistic budget! 😏🤷♂️
#STFC
@fatbury: Would be another MEH appointment – prepare for National League by choosing a non league boss!
@Scribblemilk: I’d say it would be a great appointment, he ticks all the boxes.
@swinfan69: Sooner have Garrard. I see Barnet has having failed spectacularly when they should have contested the play off final at the least.
@stfcquestions: This is quite the gear change out of nowhere; we haven’t paid compo for a boss in living memory. You have to wonder whether @TrustSTFC’s survey combined with appalling YoY ST sales have finally put a rocket up Morfuni’s Mob? Or an incoming owner getting to work early? #stfc
@harryjjnicholas: We could do much much worse in all honesty, not against that appointment at all. Important we get a proper football structure around him though. Proper recruitment and backroom staff needed #stfc
@luongodinho: I’d be very pleasantly surprised by this appointment! Decent track record and looks to play attacking football based on Barnets goal record #stfc
@TheSTFCbarman: Interesting, not a name that was on my radar but seems like a decent appointment. Hopefully the time taken to appoint a manager will pay off. Otherwise it’ll be knives out again
@jettight19: Just looking at his time at Barnet looks good I hope we can pull this of #stfc
@Peaky505: Brennan I quite like! Improved every team he’s had a proper spell at, albeit a lower level, prefer taking a gamble on an up and coming non league manager than Derek the dinosaur or Gunning. Challinor, Williamson, Wild all followed that path and are doing good jobs in L2 #stfc
@JakegSTFC: DEAN BRENNANS RED AND SHITE ARMY 🤣🔴⚪ #STFC
Dean Brennan heavily linked to the Swindon job
Is he the right fit at the club? I’d say absolutely. His play style + system this season align perfectly with what you’d identify with Swindon
Is it the right step up? Considering Swindon’s off the field issues, I’d lean towards no pic.twitter.com/UJn5fb7wPv
— tomhwilliams23 (@tomhwilliams23) May 10, 2024
Steven Alan Chamberlain: Time for Clem to sell up
Matt Stead: Ready for us to drop into the National League.
Paul Woolf: Cheap option. Lots of experience in non league, so maybe that’s their vision If he signs, I hope he proves us all wrong
Corey Harper: Behave like a non league club your soon become one
Tyler Knight: preparing for 25/26 🤩
Allan Woodman Mullet: A little read up on him after knowing absolutely nothing – looks like he’s done ok with some shit, struggling clubs…..hate to say it but I’m realistic, and we are a shit, struggling club right now. Might work. I dunno who people are expecting but I don’t imagine some of the big names (or ex players and managers) mentioned are gonna be queuing up to join us right now. We are a mess
Jason Cockerton: This would IMO be a great appointment, experienced, great style of play, knows how to score goals and how to keep a clean sheet, perfect timing for him to step up. I’d be very pleased with this.
Daniel Ricketts: We’re all going on a non league tour 😍
Jon Dixon: To be honest I can’t think of a better option for a club with no money. I’d rather someone young and hungry with a good win percentage than a non-entity or washed up has been.
Lani Taylor: 40%+ win ratio at every club he’s managed. Up and coming manager, but no football league experience. We don’t often go for this kind of appointment.
James Farmer: I wouldn’t give him a straight NO… Finished 2nd with Barnet this season but has no League 2 experience
Robin Smith: Have a mate who is a massive Barnet fan, rates him. Gutted to have missed out in the playoffs.
Lee Hill: Nice to see the fans as positive as ever, you lot are a fucking bore. We could get pep and people will still cry
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