One who is NOT coming: Bit miffed he thinks Swindon are a better team than us.
MICHAEL Timlin chose the ‘better option’ when he opted to stay at Swindon Town rather than move home to Southend United, according to the midfielder himself.
Timlin was contacted by Southend manager Paul Sturrock when his last contract expired at the end of last season, leading to plenty of speculation he would fly the Robins nest to settle closer to his family in the south east.
But yesterday the 26-year-old committed his future to Town by signing a new two-year deal at the
County Ground, and then told the Advertiser Swindon was always his preferred choice as a footballer - even if his girlfriend took a little convincing.
“Once my family heard about the Southend situation it was hard for them to think I would stop and not go there,” he said.
“It took quite a while for them to get their heads round that.
“The last week has been spent trying to get my girlfriend to forget the fact of being back home.
“I said to her, ‘if you think about it from a footballing side, Swindon is always going to be the better option’.”
Timlin has served Town for almost five years since originally joining the club on
loan from Fulham in November 2006.
In that time he has developed an affinity with the Swindon, and said he would find it difficult to leave in any circumstances.
While he conceded he has spoken to Sturrock in recent months, the Irishman stressed he had never discussed terms with the Shrimpers, while he kept Robins interim chairman Jeremy Wray completely in the loop with all developments.
“I told Jeremy I was really keen to stay,” he said. “I see myself as part of the club, I’ve been here a long time and I think I’m the longest-serving outfield player.
“Those things are hard to turn your back on.
“Everyone would have known that Southend would have shown interest, particularly with Sturrock there.
“As soon as I heard about the interest I told Jeremy straight away and I told him I was going on holiday, they’d shown interest and I wanted to be honest as he’d always been honest to him.
“It wasn’t any more than just thinking. We didn’t go into big dialogue or anything like that.”
After his break and a few days consulting with his family, Timlin got on the phone to his chairman on Monday night to let him know he wanted to stay in Wiltshire.
And with the deal now done, he can’t wait to work within Paolo Di Canio’s new-look regime.
“I was keen anyway, but since meeting him (Di Canio) this morning I’m like a little kid with excitement.
“I think I can adapt to Paolo and Fabrizio (Piccareta, Di Canio’s assistant manager) really well.
“It’s down to me to play well but it’s nice to get the opportunity to play under the manager who wants you for who you are.
