Mark Kennedy said that Jack Bycroft had not done anything wrong to result in him losing his place in goal for Swindon Town to Dan Barden.

Having started every league game since joining from Southampton in January, Bycroft was left on the bench in favour of the Norwich City loanee against Tranmere Rovers.

After the game, The Adver asked Kennedy if there was anything extra he wanted to see from Bycroft to win his shirt back having dropped out of the starting line-up.

He said: “There is nothing [more I want to see from him] at all, just to carry on doing what he is doing.

“First and foremost he is an incredible person and he hasn’t done anything where we thought ‘He has got to come out of the team.’

“It is just one of those decisions you make where perhaps a change or a fresh face behind the back three will help.

“They have both got very different qualities as ‘keepers, they are both very good at certain things.

“I spoke to somebody about something yesterday who is going through a bit of trouble in their life and I said ‘Sometimes change can be a really good thing.’

“I am an advocate of change and that was just one of those things where I thought a change might be a good thing for Jack.

“He can come out, have a seat, have a look, and reflect – with Dan’s performances in training they have been pushing each other through thick and thin.

“It was a really tough decision because I am a big Jack fan but it is what you are paid for as a coach.

“Jack has given us the response that we expected for a top professional.”

Barden made his first league start since March 2023 for Maidstone United against Woking and Kennedy felt he gave a very strong account of himself having been banging on the door in training.

He said: “I think that Dan’s performances with how he performed against Exeter [City] and in training, he has definitely been knocking on the door every day saying ‘I think I am your man.’

“I just thought that a change was good tonight for both parties.

“I am glad that Dan played well tonight because sometimes when you make the decision and it doesn’t work out then people are quick to jump on the bandwagon.”

Kennedy added that whilst he did not entirely buy into Mikel Arteta’s belief that goalkeepers are the same as any other position, he would not shy away from making necessary changes.

He said: “When we pick a team, you pick a team to win the game and it is easy to do with outfield players, it is probably more ballsy with goalkeepers.

“Apologies if I have got this wrong but I think it was Mikel Arteta who said last year ‘What is the difference with an outfield player? He is a player at the club.’

“I am not quite in that mindset but it was just a collective decision to make.”