On 18 May 2006 Dennis Wise agreed to become the new Swindon Town manager. Former boss Iffy Onuora was offered the chance to stay in a reduced capacity but he turned down the offer and left the club, with Alan Reeves also departing after eight seasons as a player and coach. A press conference was held on Monday 22 May 2006 with the club officially announcing Wise as Iffy Onuora's replacement,; Wise and his assistant manager Gustavo Poyet were in attendance. It was confirmed that Wise and Poyet would be registering themselves as players; this was surprising on Poyet's part as the ex-Real Zaragoza and Chelsea midfielder had retired two years previously after leaving Tottenham Hotspur.