Is signing Sid Nelson key to Swindon Town's success?

SID NELSON will return to Swindon Town for the remainder of the League Two season with an aim to make the centre-back a permanent signing at SN1 come May. But is the defender a move in the right direction for Swindon Town? Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his analysis.

Brought in on a short-term loan from Millwall at the start of the season, Sid Nelson arrived at the County Ground bursting with potential and a keenness to develop into a top defender. 

But with a stuttered career consisting of Championship appearances combined with four different loan moves to the lower divisions, Swindon fans were unsure as to what to expect from the 23-year-old. 

Joining the ranks of Millwall at the age of 8, Nelson kick-started a fruitful playing career for himself that seen him go on to captain the youth team before making his first-team debut for the lions in 2014. 

However, failure to cement a regular starting spot at the London club saw Nelson make loan moves to Newport, Yeovil, and Chesterfield before arriving at Swindon in August. 

Having already experienced League Two football and with an aim of promotion back to League One at the start of the season, the coup of Nelson by then-manager Phil Brown appeared to be a fantastic signing for the club, and since then the young centre-back has exceeded expectations.  

Making 20 appearances for the Robins so far this season, the 6ft 1in defender has been the enforcer at the heart of Swindon’s defence with his ability to bring the ball forward equally as impressive as his physicality at the back. 

Striking up a solid centre-back partnership with Luke Woolfenden has seen the Millwall man establish himself as a fan favourite amongst the Town faithful and it’s easy to see why. 

Nelson possesses all the attributes of a traditional, strong, no-nonsense defender. Great in the air, brilliant reading of the game intertwined with robust defending in one-on-one situations make keeping the Lewisham born player a no-brainer for the Wiltshire club. 

Speaking on the central defender following the sides latest home game against Exeter, it’s evident that current STFC manager Richie Wellens holds Nelson in high regards as well stating that “he wins headers, he’s aggressive and the next time the striker comes up against him he’s looking to see where Sid is.”

The signing of Nelson will be a big step in the right direction for Swindon and sporting director Paul Jewell given the clubs recent record of poor transfers but with the player set to leave Millwall on a free transfer at the end of the current season, Swindon club chairman Lee Power will have to open his chequebook to compete with other clubs willing to boost Nelson’s wages.

At the age of just 23, Sid Nelson has a fantastic career ahead of him and with Millwall manager Neil Harris confirming that there is every chance Nelson “will return to Swindon,” Town fans can rest peacefully knowing that SN1 will provide the platform for his progression.