Player Profile

Steve McMahon brought Willis to the club towards the end of the 1997/98 season, signing him on a free transfer from Coventry. It was Mike Walsh, however, who handed Willis his first team debut, playing him in an unfamiliar left back role in a 0-0 draw at Tranmere in September 1998, in what proved to be Walsh's only game as caretaker-manager after McMahon had left the club.

Since then, Willis has failed to command a regular first-team place, and he has looked likely to leave the club on many occasions. Firstly, he joined Mansfield on loan towards the end of the 1998/99 season, with a view to a permanent transfer which never materialised. Willis returned to the club, and he began to feature more regularly as the Swindon team was gradually sold off to keep the club afloat. Then, after Jimmy Quinn was sacked at the end of the 1999/2000 season, Colin Todd started to reshape his squad, and it came as a surprise when Willis was one of those who remained - even more surprising was when Todd offered Willis the captaincy. This proved to be shortlived, however, and he remained as a squad player throughout the following two campaigns.

Alan Reeves' extended suspension towards the end of the 2001/02 season proved to be well-timed for Willis, and some good performances earned him a year's extension to his contract. Still though, Willis was unable to hold down a place in the side - and he found himself a victim of Andy King's belief in Reeves, who he refused to drop despite the barracking of Reeves by a section of the Town support. During a run of seven defeats early in the season, Reeves was substituted for Willis, which resulted in sections of the crowd cheering Willis' every touch - many fans believing that he should be a regular member of the side. Later, King admitted that he found it difficult to pick Willis even on the bench, in case it might tempt the crowd to get on Reeves' back.

When Willis finally did get another chance, at Barnsley on 1st February 2003, an ankle injury forced him off after just eighteen minutes, and it proved to be his last game for Swindon. Reportedly one of the club's highest earners, King decided he couldn't justify the expense for a squad player, and with his contract up, Willis was released at the end of the season.

Playing Record

Senior

Reserve and Youth Team Appearances

Note that appearance data for reserve and youth teams may not be complete. Expand for more information.

Career details

Club	Details
Coventry City Coventry City	(trainee) July 1995 (signed professional contract); transferred out (April 21st, 1998)
Swindon Town Swindon	March 30th, 1998 (trial)
Swindon Town Swindon	April 21st, 1998 (transferred in, free transfer); released (2002/3)
Mansfield Town Mansfield Town	March 25th, 1999 (loan); expired (1998/9)
Kidderminster Harriers Kidderminster Harriers	August 8th, 2003 (unattached); released (May 2004)
Burton Albion Burton Albion	rptd October 31st, 2003 (loan); expired (rptd December 20th, 2003)
Hinckley United Hinckley United	rptd June 10th, 2004 (unattached)