Football Season Guide

Tranmere Rovers will be hoping this is the season they can finally climb out of the doldrums. The Club still hasn’t recovered from relegation at the end of the truncated Covid-19 season in 2020 and last season represented their lowest league position since returning to the Football League in 2018. August will mark a decade in charge for former FA Chief Executive Mark Palios, who appointed experienced manager Nigel Adkins in November following a poor start to the season under Ian Dawes. Finishing in 16th place wasn’t what either man will have wanted and it needs to be the catalyst for a much-improved showing this time around. Continuity and stability are what Rovers need and Adkins has slowly evolved the squad this summer. There have been no notable departures, with the exception of loan winger Rob Apter, who was always going to leave anyway. A lot of the dead wood has been cut from the squad. There have been some modest additions; Sam Foley is a steady-Eddie in the middle of the park, whilst full-back Cameron Norman arrives with some unrealised potential. Rovers have taken a punt on non-league duo Josh Williams and Sol Soloman whilst Josh Davison, who commanded a fee, has a lot to prove after a poor time at AFC Wimbledon. The spine of last season’s side remains in goalkeeper Luke McGee, centre-backs Jordan Turnbull and Tom Davies, midfielders Brad Walker and Regan Hendry and strikers Connor Jennings and Harvey Saunders. Yet none of this inspires any kind of excitement or reason to believe this season will be any different. Some quality additions, perhaps on loan, are desperately needed.