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Andrew Fitton at yesterday's press conference

AFTER one of the most farcical chapters in the history of Swindon Town football club, it was only fitting a slight technical hitch' delayed the start of Andrew Fitton's brand new dawn.

With the assembled media waiting and fans at home and work watching their internet and listening to their radios, the completion of the protracted Town takeover deal inevitably had one last twist - as officials waited for the final green light.

An hour's wait and a few anxious glances later, Fitton & co eventually emerged to confirm they had finally completed the purchase of the County Ground outfit - and would now secure the club's financial future.

"There was a slight technical hitch but that was the phone call saying it is done," he said after taking one last phone call.

"That was not stage managed. There was a slight technicality over paperwork and it finally got solved two minutes ago."

The majority of Town fans would not believe the deal was done until the ink was dry - and for good reasons after years of financial disasters and uncertainty.

Fitton himself had previously attempted to buy Town on at least two other occasions, together with two other failed takeover bids in just the last year, and he admitted it was not an easy deal to do.

He said: "The first feeling is relief because you needed a huge amount of tenacity to do this deal.

"That is what probably stopped the other 45 attempts from succeeding.

"One thing I am always concerned about is the concept of buyer's remorse.

"This is the moment you buy something you suddenly feel you should not have done.

"Well I am pleased to say at this minute in time I am feeling absolutely no remorse whatsoever."

Town's new chairman instantly revealed remaining debts to the Inland Revenue and the Football League, and the unpaid CVA bill, would be settled in the next few months.

He also admitted change had already started but appealed to the fans to be patient when looking to the future.

He said: "Change is already happening. We are planning to release a 10-point plan showing our objectives for the first 12 months.

"These will be released in the next few days. They range from simple things to more complicated things.

"I want the fans to be patient and to remember what it was like a few weeks ago.

"So that when they see improvement they can assess it from what they were facing before.

"Things don't change as quickly as people would like them to in any walk of life.

"We have a philosophy in everything we do, a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement.

"A journey of a million miles starts with one small step.

"If you speak to a Japanese factory worker their aim in life is to improve by one per cent a month.

"Over five years it is a 120 per cent improvement.

"That is our objective, just one per cent a month.

"That is the message, be patient and allow things to unfold.

"Every time you take a step forward, take a look back and see what improvement you have made."

7:08am Wednesday 16th January 2008

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