On 20 August 2013, he was appointed manager of Swindon Town, after taking over as assistant manager from when MacDonald resigned on 13 July 2013. He led the club to 8th in his first season in charge during the 2013-14 Football League One campaign, and followed that up by qualifying for the 2014–15 League One play-offs the following season. After play-off semi-final success over Sheffield United, he led the club out in the 2015 League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium but was denied promotion, losing 4–0 to Preston North End. Later after play-off final defeat, he sold midfield duo Ben Gladwin and Massimo Luongo to Queens Park Rangers for undisclosed seven-figure transfer fees.