Swindon edges it as professional Brown opts for fresh career opportunity

You've had the dates circled on your calendar for weeks, you've planned your trip to the minute and there is nothing to stop you making your pilgrimage to the Cheltenham Festival.

And then, the phone rings. On the eve of the biggest and best four days in jump racing you are asked to come for a job interview you know you have to go to. Talk about bad timing.

That was the position football manager Phil Brown, a passionate racing fan and owner, found himself in last week when Swindon Town came calling for his services.