In the 2019/20 season, Richie Wellens led Swindon to their fourth-ever league title, although it was not one that was won entirely on the field.

After 36 games, Town were actually second in the table, behind Crewe Alexandra, although only on goal difference, and this was largely by virtue of Swindon having played a game fewer.

It was at this point that the season was curtailed due to the outbreak of COVID, bringing an end to the action on the pitch.

It was not until three months after the final match, a 2-0 defeat to Forest Green Rovers on March 7, that Town were eventually awarded the title on a points-per-game calculation.

With the country still in lockdown, the fans and players never got a day to celebrate as a collective, and Wright revealed how strange it was for the players and staff.

Tommy Wright worked with Richie Wellens at Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town (Image: Adver Archive)

He said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few promotions, and it is a great day for the players and for the fans. Unless you are one of the big teams and you are winning things every year, it is not something that you get often.

“It is great when you get to the last day, and you are running onto the pitch celebrating, and the fans are enjoying it.

“The Swindon fans spent a lot of money to go and support their team, but we never got that day.

“That made it a bit of a downer, as whilst it was great for the club to get promotion, we couldn’t share it with anybody.

“We were just sat at home texting each other ‘Well done.’ It was like winning promotion and celebrating it six months later, so the euphoria is just not there.

“When we had the socially distanced celebration, you sort of pat everyone on the back, but you don’t get that instant when the ref blows the whistle, and you know you are promoted – it is a bit like goals with VAR now.

“It is just that moment of thinking, ‘What a great achievement!’ and I did miss that, and I am sure that the fans did, too.

“I remember that we did end up having a get-together in Swindon; I forget the name of the pub we were in, but we did get to do that. The whole thing was just a big mess.”