Football Season Review

Barnet suffered a disastrous season which ended in the heartbreak of relegation from the Football League despite the efforts of returning manager Martin Allen. The Bees have the ignominy of becoming the first club to have been relegated from the Football League on three separate occasions, having also endured the same fate in 2001 and 2013. Much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of owner Tony Kleanthous following a series of managerial changes throughout the season. Rossi Eames was in charge when the campaign kicked-off in August but he was replaced by the experienced Mark McGhee in November with the side having slipped into the bottom two after a promising start. Eames won just four from 17 matches but McGhee lasted just ten games, losing eight of them before he was moved upstairs and replaced by Graham Westley. He managed just one more game than McGhee, with two wins in eleven matches before Kleanthous turned to Allen for the fifth time. He got the appointment right this time but sadly made it too late with just eight games remaining. They won five of them under Allen but finished level on 46 points on Morecambe but below them due to an inferior goal difference. Another significant factor was a squad beset by injuries, which included talisman John Akinde, who struggled for form and managed just seven goals. Goalkeeper Craig Ross enjoyed a breakthrough season between the sticks whilst Ricardo Almeida Santos was the mainstay of the defence. Striker Shaquille Coulthirst took Akinde’s mantle as leading goalscorer with a dozen goals. Allen is left with a squad that looks well equipped for the challenge for bouncing back in the National League and Kleanthous will be hoping he is ready and willing to take it on again.

Player of the Season: Shaquile Coulthirst