PROGRESS has been made by Swindon Town manager Phil Brown regarding the appointment of a new goalkeeping coach following Dean Thornton’s exit earlier this month.

Thornton, who arrived at the club in the summer of 2016, announced on social media that he had accepted a job to become head goalkeeping coach for the Taiwan national team.

Brown has since been in contact with three candidates, one of whom he has worked with previously.

The Town boss hopes to have his new coach in place before the start of Swindon’s League Two campaign on Saturday, August 4 – when they welcome newly-promoted Macclesfield to the Energy Check County Ground.

Brown said: “There’s progress, we’re moving down the line on two or three names.

“But a lot of things can happen before the start of the season.”

Experienced stopper Luke McCormick has stepped in to fill Thornton’s boots on a temporary basis until Brown can source a new coach.

McCormick, 34, has more than 300 Football League appearances under his belt having spent large parts of his career at Plymouth Argyle.

Brown drafted in the Coventry-born keeper to provide the returning Lawrence Vigouroux with competition for a place in the first team.

And McCormick, according to Brown, is doing is well since being unveiled as a Swindon player earlier this month.

Brown said: “One thing that Luke McCormick brings to the party is vast experience.

“And not only that, but he also wants to essentially square up to Lawrence Vigouroux and say ‘I’m here to challenge you for your shirt’.

“And, at the moment, Lawrence is stepping up to that challenge.

If that continues, we’ll have two number ones in the camp – which is something I said about Stuart Moore at the end of last season.

“To coach at the same time is a difficult ask.”