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Timlin: 'From a footballing side, Swindon Town is always going to be the better option'

Last updated : 23 June 2011 By westfield shrimper

Timlin: Set to sign a new contract

Michael Timlin: Has signed a new contract with the Robins
 
Former loanee Michael Timlin has decided to stay with League two rivals Swindon Town as it was confirmed that the Shrimpers were indeed 'the other club''.
 
However, after all the speculation, it seems Blues boss Paul Sturrock, the manager who took him to Wiltshire in the first place, just sent the then out of contract midfielder a text inquiring about his thoughts of a move back to Roots Hall, especially as captain Craig Easton, another ex-Robin, was being a bit stubborn about putting pen to paper to his own deal.
 
Timlin has admitted that there was never any contract on the table, possible wages were not discussed, it was mainly his own family and girlfriend, who live in south-east Essex, that were interested in him making the move, the boy himself was born in Peckham!
 
Timlin told www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk:“Once my family heard about the Southend situation it was hard for them to think I would stop and not go there. 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’.”
 
Thanks for that Michael, we're talk again around May time!

Anyway, Timlin has been with the Town since originally being brought to the club by Luggy on loan from Fulham in November 2006, and now we know that staying with the side that were relegated from the third tier at the end of the last campaign was always the favourite.

Timlin continued: “I told Jeremy I was really keen to stay. 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.”

Just how cool is this guy?.jpg
Di Canio at Upton Park, September 2010

So, with the ink dried on the new contract, the truth can come out, like many a Hamster before him, Michael just fancies new Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio.

Let's be honest, at the mention of his name, Timlin goes positively girly.

He said: “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.”

And I'm sure Michael's girlfriend concurred on that point.

Captain Craig may still stay: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

We await the call from the Palace: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

The Timlin Saga

He was here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

Luggy's sniffing around: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

Captain Craig's warning: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

Luggy looks to Uncle Ron for dosh (stop laughing): www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

He's staying: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

Oh no he's not: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

He could be back!: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/

He could still be back!: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

The chairman remains hopeful he wont: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

He's staying, again: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

The Timlin Files

Personal information
Full name Michael Anthony Timlin[1]
Date of birth 19 March 1985 (1985-03-19) (age 26)
Place of birth Peckham, London, England
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Swindon Town
Number 11
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004-2008 Fulham 0 (0)
2006 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 1 (0)
2006 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 3 (0)
2006-2007 → Swindon Town (loan) 24 (1)
2008 → Swindon Town (loan) 10 (1)
2008- Swindon Town 85 (4)
2010 → Southend United (loan) 8 (1)
National team‡
2006 Republic of Ireland U21 8 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:09, 08 May 2011 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:57, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Timlin)