Byrne has had two spells as caretaker manager at Swindon

Swindon are prepared to start paying fees to sign youth-team players from other clubs in an attempt to improve their own junior set-up.

Town have already agreed deals with two unnamed youngsters, believed to be from Plymouth, who will require compensation at a tribunal.

Former caretaker boss Dave Byrne is the club's new head of player development.

He told BBC Wiltshire: "We can now go and identify players we've never been able to before."

Byrne also revealed Swindon are looking to extend their scouting network into mainland Europe.

"We're going to try to build a foundation where we're looking for homegrown talent," he said.

"But if we can't get that home-grown talent then we need to broaden our horizons and see if we can get into the European market and bring in some good kids."

Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton thinks the club's future is very much tied to the success of developing their own players.

"We see a much closer association between the youth, the reserves and progression into the first team," he said.

"We've been generating about one player a year over recent years, so on my principle that you've got to improve in small steps, two would be a good start."

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