CLIFF PUFFETT described Colin Todd's departure as a radical setback.

The Town director was bitterly disappointed by the exit of a man he had built a great friendship with over the past six months.

Mr Puffett had played a key role in bringing Todd to the County Ground and was proud to unveil him as Town's new manager at a press conference on May 4.

Mr Puffett said: "Colin Todd is quality, there's no doubt about that.

"Even if he had brought success to this club I always felt in my heart of hearts he was another Glenn Hoddle.

"I only anticipated him being here a couple of years because he is a big-club sort of manager. His stature, manner and the way he talked to players was great and there's no doubt Swindon Town are the losers."

Mr Puffett was alerted to Todd's decision before kick-off against Millwall on Tuesday night.

"It's almost like the Kevin Keegan scenario. The whole timing of it was dramatically wrong," he said. "But no matter what happens this club will go forward.

"It's just like the players. No one individual is bigger than the club itself and we will take stock of the situation.

"It is a knock back that we can recover from and we will go forward."

Fan Tony Norris was not surprised by Todd's departure and urged Terry Brady to find a replacement with similar experience.

"Steve McMahon was a first-time appointment and he was an unmitigated disaster. We need someone with experience and the man that springs to mind is Joe Kinnear."

Legendary winger Don Rogers said: "I thought the club was getting back to some sort of normality but this is a big step backward."

John Carter