HIT OR MISS?: Swindon Town's January deadline day signings

The January transfer window is set to close for another year as the 2017 deadline rolls around and Total Sport have evaluated Swindon's previous last-gasp additions in previous seasons.

Perhaps oddly, the january transfer window, despite all its connotations of the yellow-tied Jim White frothing at the mouth over the latest forgettable move, has only been around in its current form since 2003.

Over those 14 years Swindon have done their fare share of business, signing 40 players to date (including five this month), with four of those coming on the final day. Here is each of them, in order and whether they have been deemed worthy of donning Town red.

1) Patrick Noubissie (Crewe Alexandra, free transfer, 2007)

Not heard of much prior, not heard of much since. Patrick Noubissie arrived at the County Ground as Swindon's one and only January signing in 2007 as Town edged towards promotion from League Two under Paul Sturrock.

Noubissie, who signed on a free transfer from Crewe, made three appearances, just one of them a start, for the Robins and left the same summer, for Hibernian after being released.

His career since has seen him play his trade at Ayia Napa, Kettering (signed by Mark Cooper, remember him?) and Droylsden.

His LinkedIn page says he is now a Physiotherapist Assistant at Milton Keynes hospital. 

Verdict: MISS

2) Simon Cox (Reading, undisclosed fee, 2008)

Swindon had better luck with a deadline day addition the following year though in the shape of now club legend Simon Cox.

Cox had a history of signing at the last minute. He initially arrived at the County Ground on August 31 2007, the summer deadline day, later returned to Reading but made his move to Wiltshire permanent for a fee believed to be £200,000 on January 31st.

He scored 14 goals in 36 games in his first season and then hit 29 in 45 the year after before leaving for then-Championship outfit West Brom for £1.5 million.

Club legend Cox has found himself back in League One, with Southend, after spells at Nottingham Forest and a homecoming to Reading as well as a loan to Bristol City and he also has 30 Republic of Ireland caps and four goals for his country to his name.

Verdict: HIT

3) Elliot Benyon (Torquay, undisclosed fee, 2011)

Oh, Elliot, it all started so well.

It was always going to be difficult to replace Charlie Austin, who departed the club earlier this January, but Swindon thought they had the solution in Elliot Benyon who had scored 13 goals in 23 games in League Two. They had not.

For a moment everyone was fooled. Swindon trailed Rochdale 1-0 at the County Ground on what was Benyon's debut and, in the 90th minute, he popped up with a glancing header to secure a last-gasp point for Town.

That though would unfortunately be his only goal in red and white and Swindon were relegated. He left the club for Wycombe on loan in the summer and the following January he signed for Southend on a permanent deal.

Since, Benyon has returned to Torquay before moving on to Hayes and Yeading United and now Wealdstone, who are in the Conference South.

Verdict: MISS

4) Lee Cox (Inverness, undisclosed fee, 2012)

Last but not least. Well, maybe least, that's up to you.

Paolo Di Canio's 18-month tenure at Swindon Town was a very enjoyable one on the pitch, however the maverick Italian garnered a bit of a reputation for signing a few duffers in the transfer market.

One of those was Lee Cox, aquired on deadline day 2012 from Inverness, for an undisclosed fee.

Cox played 11 league games for Swindon over the course of three seasons, scoring one goal, against Bradford, and then he moved on, to Plymouth.

While at Swindon, Cox also had a loan at fierce rivals Oxford. He is now at Brackley Town in the Conference North.

Verdict: MISS