League Two club enter race to sign ex-Swindon loan striker

Yahoo

28-07-2025

Last season's Swindon Town loanee Joe Westley is now a target for their League Two rivals Accrington Stanley, according to reports.
Following a six-month spell with Swindon last season in which Westley netted three times despite largely being a finisher under Ian Holloway, the Burnley striker has been the subject of plenty of interest.
The Lower Tiers have previously said that Wigan Athletic, Walsall, and Fleetwood Town were looking at him, along with Swindon, but Alan Nixon has now written that Accrington are interested in bringing him to the Wham Stadium.
Nixon also said that Town had been in discussions with him earlier this summer, although a deal broke down after there was uncertainty over his game time. Westley started only three of his 17 appearances in the second half of last season.
The Adver is aware that Swindon did have interest in Westley earlier this summer, but a real approach did not materialise as they were pursuing other opportunities.
Westley was a player that Holloway liked greatly, especially the attitude that he had and would have been pleased to have him back, especially as he does not want a like-for-like back-up for Harry Smith.
Read more: Loan move in progress for young Swindon defender
Whose hype train is building and who must start? Swindon players rated
Holloway looking to make clear to Town squad standards expected
Speaking on Saturday, he said: 'I like to stack and rack my forwards, I always have and I always will.
'What I won't do is stack and rack someone like Harry, because if I try to bring another one like Harry in, then he knows he is going to be sub. Who the hell am I going to get to do that?'
Having been predominantly an impact sub for Swindon last season, Westley appears to be angling for a more obvious starting place in his new team.
He has spent pre-season with Burnley, scoring against Huddersfield at the weekend, but wants a chance for regular football this campaign.
Speaking to Burnley club media in June, Westley said: 'In League Two, the players are just better. They're a bit stronger, with more defensive nous than players in the under-21s and a bit more physical, so you've got to learn to grow up quite quickly in that type of football.
'I went there to prove to myself that I could score goals at that level, and I did do that, so going into next year, I'll make sure I rest but also come back firing.
'I'll come back into pre-season as fit and as sharp as I can be and will see what happens from there.'