SWINDON fans set their sights pretty low before a ball had been kicked.

Even new owner Clem Morfuni said staying up would be classed as success as he rebuilds a club ripped apart under the controversial ownership of one-time Bantam Lee Power.

The Robins were reportedly days away from following a similar story to Bury and Macclesfield after the previous regime’s reckless actions.

John McGreal came in as manager – and left within a month – before Australian Morfuni turned to former Bristol Rovers boss Ben Garner quickly after taking over.

Amid a huge turnover of players, Swindon have come bursting out the blocks to banish the pre-season fears of facing a second successive relegation battle.

Victory at Sutton on Tuesday, featuring a stunning goal from Wales international Jonny Williams, was their fifth in an unbeaten run on the road to lift them up to third.

The only wobble so far has been at the County Ground where Swindon have won only once.

Striker Harry McKirdy is keen to put that record right – but is not surprised by how well the Wiltshire club have started to silence the pre-season doom mongers.

He said: "I think in football no one really knows what is going on apart from those within the group.

“I was hearing stuff about hoping to stay up and you know as a player yourself, you aren't deluded and you could see the players we were bringing in and the standard of boys we had in training.

“I don't think it ever crossed my mind that we would be anywhere near that because this is the best group of players that I've played with since I've been at this level and it really wasn't a shock to us.

“If anything we need to pick up the form at home because we've dropped points.

"We need to start scoring goals at home and once we do that then we'll win games."