The story of former Portsmouth man’s bizarre stay with troubled Swindon

Former Pompey defender Kieron Freeman has spoken after his Swindon Town exit - just 25 days after signing for them.
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The Robins arrived at Fratton Park tomorrow in grave financial difficulties, according to chairman Lee Power.

Power, who had a loan stay with Pompey in 1993, has stated his club are on the brink of collapse amid the coronavirus crisis.

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And that appears to have contributed to Freeman’s exit for Championship Swansea just a few weeks after signing.

Freeman, who made seven appearances while on loan with Pompey in 2016, has been without a club after leaving Sheffield United in the summer.

That stay out of the game came to a close on January 7 when he signed a deal with Swindon until the end of the season.

But Freeman managed just 162 minutes of football with John Sheridan’s side before he moved on to the Championship high-fliers on deadline day for an undisclosed fee, with winger Jordan Garrick going to the County Ground on loan.

Kieron Freeman in Pompey coloursKieron Freeman in Pompey colours
Kieron Freeman in Pompey colours
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Freeman last night took to social media after a rollercoaster period and said: ‘Wanted to thank @Official_STFC for the opportunity it was short but sweet. Wish the staff and players all the best for the season.’

‘After a crazy couple of days and a great win yesterday just wanted to say how privileged and buzzing I am to sign for @Swansofficial.’

Freeman’s exit meants Swindon saw five players arrive in the January window but eight players leave with the club in financial crisis as they visit Pompey, after the game was originally called off after a coronavirus outbreak at PO4 in December.

Chairman Power described Swindon as being ‘on the brink’ as they struggle to stay operational.

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He told BBC Radio Wiltshire: ‘Every month I have to worry about funding or finding funding to get the wages paid and that’s where we are.

‘I’m surprised we’ve got this far if I’m honest, with no supporters and no income since March.

‘It’s getting tougher and tougher and that’s where we are.

‘It’s week-by-week, month-by-month. The EFL has been great and they’ve helped as much as they can and we had a sell-on [fee] in the summer from (Jayden] Bogle that helped.

‘We’re no different to any other club. It’s just a ridiculously hard position that we’re in.

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‘I funded the club and invested very heavily in the club for promotion last year to make sure the team got out of League Two, that was me, no one else.

‘At that time, I believed that we’d be in League One, the crowds would be back and we’d be back to normal and that hasn’t happened.

‘It’s been a double whammy, money and funds we used to get us up aren’t there now to keep us alive so we’re trying our best but we’re on the rockface, hanging over the edge.

‘To be honest, the last thing we want to do is sell our best players, especially with the position that we’re in.

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‘But like I’ve said and stated since March last year, we’re in a national pandemic, we’ve had no supporters in the stadium, it’s been a fight morning noon and night to keep this club afloat.’

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