Swindon Town are reportedly considering signing former Salford City full-back Declan John, who has been on trial with the League Two club for nearly a month.
The 29-year-old, who made 33 appearances for Salford City last season while on loan from Bolton Wanderers, is currently training with Swindon Town as he looks for his next move. Released by Bolton over the summer alongside players such as Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Cameron Jerome, John has been a free agent since the end of last season. Despite his availability, the Welsh international has yet to secure a new club, prompting his trial with Swindon.
Swindon Town manager Mark Kennedy confirmed John’s presence at the club in an interview with the Swindon Advertiser, stating, “All of it is true apart from trialist of the week because he has been with us for about a month.”
Kennedy expressed his surprise that John had not yet been picked up by another team, adding, “He is a really good player, and I don’t know how he has not got a club. I don’t know the why because I have not gotten into that.”
According to Kennedy, John has impressed during his time at Swindon. “Dec has been with us for about a month now and has done really well. He is a really good player, we really like him, he lives locally, and we have given him an opportunity for him to train and get fit,” the manager explained. Kennedy also suggested that Swindon is a club John would be keen to sign for if the opportunity arises. “He is here on merit, he is here because we like him, he likes coming here. Will we get something done? I don’t know.”
Declan John brings with him considerable experience across various levels of British football. Having come through the youth systems at Cardiff City and Swansea City, the full-back has built an extensive career in the EFL. His career includes loan spells with Chesterfield and Barnsley in League One, as well as a stint in Scotland with Rangers, where he played a role in their third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership. His most recent permanent move was to Bolton Wanderers, where he was part of the team that secured promotion from League Two, before finding himself out of favour and sent on loan to Salford City.
Swindon are also trialling former Cheltenham Town midfielder James Olayinka, with both players vying for potential deals as the club looks to strengthen its squad.
Site Opinion: Potential Asset
Declan John could prove to be a smart signing for Swindon Town, particularly if the club needs added depth in defence as the season progresses. With his experience and ability to play across both full-back positions, John fits well at the League Two level. If Swindon decides to switch formations to include either a back four or five, having a player like John who is comfortable in multiple roles could be invaluable.
Salford City, where John spent last season on loan, opted not to sign him permanently, instead bringing in Luke Garbutt as their primary left-back under Karl Robinson’s management. Youth prospect Kevin Berkoe has also emerged as a solid option for Salford in recent seasons, while Oxford United loanee Stephan Negru bolsters their centre-back depth. Meanwhile, John continues to train at Swindon, hoping to earn a contract that could see him playing regularly in League Two.
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