Ian Holloway has used stark language to describe his position at Swindon Town, telling BBC Radio Wiltshire he feels like a "dead man walking" unless results improve — and the numbers behind that admission make grim reading.

Swindon sit 12th in League Two after eight games, with three wins and 11 points on the board. Ten of those points have come at the County Ground; just one has arrived away from home. That road record is a particular concern as the club travel to Rochdale on Saturday.

Thirteen players unavailable

The scale of Swindon's injury problem is extraordinary for a squad at this level. Holloway confirmed that up to 13 players could be unavailable for the trip to Spotland — almost half the senior group. Captain Ollie Clarke, midfielder Matty Virtue and striker Paul Glatzel are the latest additions to the list, joining a group that already includes Joe Snowdon, Ryan Tafazolli, Ollie Palmer, Gavin Kilkenny, Jaylan Pearman, Harry Smith and Fletcher Holman.

Full-back Joel McGregor has yet to see a specialist, so the true nature of his problem remains unknown. Midfielder Ben Middlemass faces surgery on a cartilage issue, with Holloway estimating the absence at a minimum of eight weeks but acknowledging it "could be 20 weeks."

Mitch Clark cannot be called upon either, still serving a suspension from a red card against York, while goalkeeper Sam Inwood is away on international duty. That leaves Louis Millard — carrying a sore shoulder but having trained — potentially making up the numbers in a squad of 15 if he is passed fit.

'Never seen anything like it'

Holloway, who has been in charge at the County Ground for almost two years, insisted he has "never seen" an injury situation comparable to this one — and crucially pointed to the nature of the absences as the reason recovery timelines are so uncertain.

"The ones that we did have who were vulnerable, we're having to ask too much from them," he said. Several of the injured players had already missed pre-season, meaning they were never fully conditioned going into the campaign.

The manager was frank about the pressure on those still available: "For them to have a chance, boy oh boy, don't we need something to go right immediately."

Job under scrutiny

Holloway did not shy away from the implications for his own future. "Dead. Man. Walking. That's how it feels," he said, though he was careful to add that he understands the problems at the club better than most and has been transparent about them throughout.

The market will inevitably reflect a side that has won three from eight and travelled to six grounds without a victory. Whether supporters retain patience with a manager clearly fighting the situation rather than causing it is the key question heading into the Rochdale fixture.

Swindon needed more from this season. With the injury list showing no sign of shortening in the near future, Saturday's trip north feels pivotal.

Frequently asked

Why is Ian Holloway under pressure at Swindon?
Swindon have won only three of their first eight League Two games this season and have not won a single away fixture. The team are 12th in the table, and Holloway has publicly acknowledged his job could be at risk if form does not improve.
How many players are injured at Swindon Town?
Up to 13 players were unavailable ahead of their trip to Rochdale, including captain Ollie Clarke, Matty Virtue and Paul Glatzel among the latest additions to a lengthy absentee list.
When do Swindon play next and where?
Swindon travel to Rochdale on Saturday. It is a fixture the club desperately need to turn their away form around, having picked up just one point from their road games so far this season.