Swindon Town may be keeping an eye on the Southern Premier League Division | OneFootball

Charlie Austin was banging in the goals for Swindon Town last season, but now he is playing non-league football.

Swindon Town could find themselves in a lot of trouble this season.

The Robins have been gradually declining in form over the last couple of years, as they have gone from fighting for promotion back into League One to flirting with relegation into non-league within the space of two years.

Swindon started the 2024/25 season in horrid fashion, winning just one of their opening 10 League fixtures, which saw them plummet towards the bottom end of the table.

As a result of their poor form, Mark Kennedy was relieved of his duties and replaced by EFL legend, Ian Holloway. The appointment of Holloway raised eyebrows as the 61-year-old had been out of football for four years, and was perhaps not suited to a side that were flirting with relegation into non-league.

It is yet to be seen whether Holloway can turn things around, but something will have to change rather quickly or the Robins will find themselves in an incredibly dangerous position.

They did lose a couple of key players over the summer, which has clearly not helped, including a certain striker who became a popular figure at the County Ground, before departing for the Southern Premier League.

When Charlie Austin signed for Swindon in December 2022, the Robins were more than familiar with him. The striker earned his first-ever EFL minutes with Swindon back in the 2009/10 season and became an instant hit in attack.

He scored an impressive 19 League Two goals in his first EFL season, which was followed by 12 goals in 20 league starts in the following season. Austin really made a name for himself at the County Ground, and went on to play Championship and Premier League football, scoring goals wherever he went.

The striker clearly held a place in his heart for Swindon Town as he returned over a decade later as an experienced forward, midway through the 2022/23 season.

Over the next year and a half, Austin contributed to a total of 29 goals in all competitions and proved that he still had his shooting boots.

Last season, he wore the captain's armband and was one of their few bright sparks as they finished 19th in League Two.

That was the end of Austin's time in the EFL and at Swindon Town, who will surely be keeping an eye on him in non-league at the moment.

Austin made a return to non-league

In the summer, Austin went back to his non-league roots and joined AFC Totton, who play their football in the Southern League Premier South.

Although he is now 35 years old, it was a move that raised eyebrows as many believed that he could spend another season in the EFL, considering he contributed to 18 League Two goals last campaign.

As expected, Austin has continued his goalscoring form this season and has scored a number of goals for the non-league side.

The club are pushing for play-offs in their division and Austin will give them a massive boost, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room.

There is no doubt that Swindon Town fans will be keeping an eye on their former favourite and perhaps will be wishing that he was still playing for them.

They will be happy to see that he hasn't lost his goalscoring ability.