Football Season Guide

Swindon Town fans are certainly not looking towards the new season with any sense of excitement. Clem Morfuni was welcomed with open arms when he took control of the club in 2021 but it has been a slow decline since they were beaten in a play-off semi-final penalty shoot-out by Port Vale in 2022. Scott Lindsay’s departure in January 2023 was met with indifference. Jody Morris’s subsequent short reign was all rather forgettable. Michael Flynn’s sacking was met with relief whilst Gavin Gunning temporary stint did feel like a sticking plaster. Morfuni needs to get the next managerial appointment right and he’s gone for Mark Kennedy. The Irishman appeared to be on the right track at Lincoln City until he was suddenly dismissed for criticising one of his players in public. There have been several departures this summer, yet none of them are likely to be missed, with perhaps the exception of loan midfielder Dawson Devoy, who was always going to leave anyway. Charlie Austin will always be a club legend but his second spell at the County Ground never lived up to the hype. Frazer Blake-Tracy and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy might have stepped up a division but were never particularly stand-out performers last season. Kennedy has made several new additions and a hint to a style of play might come in the acquisition of Harry Smith, who is an old-school No.9. Centre-back Grant Hall arrives from Rotherham United and feels like an upgrade. Centre-backs Miguel Freckleton and Will Wright and midfielder Ollie Clarke were all celebrating promotion with their previous clubs back in May. More quality is needed however if they are to make any kind of impact on the division this season.