Jack Stephens back on Swindon's radar

Swindon Town chairman Lee Power has admitted midfielder Jack Stephens is still very much on the club's radar, but has urged fans to have patience when it comes to loaning players whose parent clubs would prefer them to take Championship moves.

Stephens, who spent time on loan at the County Ground during the 2014/15 campaign, was widely tipped to return to Wiltshire during the recent January window, only to undertake a spell at Coventry instead.

When asked about Stephens on BBC Radio Wiltshire, chairman Lee Power admitted the 22-year-old was very much a player he admires, but stressed the difficulty of acquiring the services of such players from their Premier League owners.

"I'd love to sign Jack Stephens. We tried to get Jack before he went to Coventry but what people don't realise is that Premier League clubs like Southampton, who have been very good to us with Jack and with Jordan (Turnbull) when they have lent us these players - but they actually want these lads to play in the Championship," Power began.

"So when they've had one year in League One they try to get them Championship loans and they leave it right until the last minute and then, if they don't get a Championship loan, hence like Jordan Turnbull and a lot of the players last season," he added.

The nature of which parent clubs pass down their players to the lower leagues to pick up playing time can make for a time consuming process, equating to a waiting game, which Power was keen to emphasise. 

"A lot of people were asking me 'why are we doing this last minute'? but it's because that's what happens. The football clubs say 'no he can't come' but then 'okay you can have him'," said Power.

"If it was possibility that we could take Jack then of course we'd like to, but again people need to realise Jack's a human being - he might not particularly want to come to Swindon, not because he doesn't like the football club but obviously he might be looking for a higher position.

"He tried to go to Middlesborough and it didn't work out for whatever reason. He went to Coventry and I'd like to think if he'd go to a League One club then he would be someone we could get, I think he's a fantastic player," he added.

Watch below as Stephens and Jordan Turnbull talk to Southampton FC TV about their time in Wiltshire, before the 2014/15 home clash against Walsall, along with fans' verdicts on the duo: