STFC: 'Budgie' Leaves Town

Swindon Town Head of Play Player Development David Byrne has left the club today.

The former Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Partick Thistle right back had been at the club since 2006.

Byrne was working as a coach for the Plymouth College of Further Education when he was brought back into the Football League by Paul Sturrock to become Swindon's Youth Team Manager.

After Paul Sturrock's departure, 'Budgie' Byrne became Caretaker Manager before the arrival of Maurice Malpas. The second Dundee United legend to manager Swindon immediately appointed Byrne as his assistant.

Byrne was Caretaker again when Malpas' unsuccessful tenure came to an end. However, when Danny Wilson arrived Byrne remained Assistant Manager until the end of the 2008/09 season when Peter Shirtliff arrived from Tranmere Rovers. As a result, Byrne was named the clubs Head of Player Development.

Will this departure affect Swindon Town? Perhaps. David Byrne helped build a very competitive non-Academy youth set-up and brought the likes of Sean Morrison and Ben Tozer to the club, the latter being an instant profit when the club sold him to Newcastle United a matter of months later.

Vital Swindon would like to wish David Byrne all the best for the future.

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