SWINDON Town manager Phil Brown says his side need to install a ‘fear factor’ at the Energy Check County Ground next season – starting on the opening day against Macclesfield Town.

The Silkmen, who appointed Mark Yates as their manager earlier this week, will be Town’s maiden opponents as Brown kicks off his first full season in charge.

Town also visit Lincoln City, Crawley Town and Forest Green Rovers in the opening month of the League Two campaign, with a Carabao Cup tie at home to Rovers also scheduled for August.

Brown, who made his first summer signing earlier this week as he brought in Jermaine McGlashan, says their must be something to fear about the County Ground if Swindon are to make the most of home advantage.

“Home advantage is hugely important. When I sit in the dugout, there are two ways you can look at the ground and the pitch,” said Brown.

“I can be a Swindon player who’d love to play out there, or as an away player, you’d come here and realise the size of the football club.

“There has to be a fear factor involved somewhere, whether that is the pitch, the football or the hostility of the supporters.

“We have to bring something special to the party when we are playing at the County Ground.”

Despite only being promoted to the Football League at the end of last season, Brown has no doubt that Macclesfield with pose a threat when the two meet on August 4.

“The fixtures, they are what they are. You’ve got 46 games, 23 at home and 23 away, but you always look at the order,” said Brown.

“You’ve got a newly-promoted team in town on the first day of the season and Macclesfield will have momentum, they’ll be on the crest of a wave.

“The fact they’re newly promoted and did very well last year counts for a lot. We have seen a lot of teams go into the World Cup on the back of momentum, so it is certainly something we have to be guarded against.

“At the same time, we are at the County Ground and we have to make it a fortress as much as we can.

“I think we should be in a higher division but we’re not. We have to earn the right to be there and it has to start of August 4.”