The second part of our League One Season Preview focuses on Lincoln City, Milton Keynes Dons, Morecambe, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, and Wycombe Wanderers.
Did you miss Part One? You can read that HERE!
The article has been published with two pages (6 clubs on each page). To get to the second page, press “Click here for the next six clubs!” at the bottom right of the page!
INTRODUCTION
The information in this preview is complete to 5pm on Monday 9 August 2021.
Managerial data is as accurate as I can make it: it is almost impossible to identify the exact dates managers joined or left minor non-league clubs 25 years ago, and detailed statistical information for minor leagues is not readily available. Online statistics databases have not been used due to the errors they can contain. As the figures are self-compiled, any errors, therefore, are my fault entirely. Firstly, sincere apologies to the subjects; secondly, any errors should be minor and not affect the overall impression; thirdly, it will be more accurate than Wikipedia.
An average points per game figure is given for each manager. To translate that into something more tangible, the table below shows how many points that figure equates to over the course of a 46-game season. Although other factors obviously come into play, it gives an indication of how likely that manager is to be involved in a relegation struggle (under 1.20 PPG), a play-off challenge (above 1.50 PPG needed) or an automatic promotion challenge (above 1.70 PPG needed).
As for the player sections, all permanent transfers in and out are included, as are longer-term loans in. All shorter-term loans in and out and season-long loans out are not included; that is because a player’s departure on loan is unlikely to have any bearing on the performance of his parent club, while short-term loans tend to have minimal impact. Players given their first professional contracts from academy status are not included as new signings. Remember that the transfer window does not close until 31 August, three weeks after the season begins: later signings may be significant.
Under normal circumstances, we would only note the results of standard 90-minute pre-season games. However, many games have not followed that format this summer for obvious reasons; therefore, we have listed every pre-season result designated as a first team friendly.
There is usually a caveat with these Season Previews, and this year it is a significant one. Last season was like no other, creating a set of circumstances that have generated an immeasurable number of variables. The abandonment of the salary cap means open season for financial lunacy once more. I have included a lot of financial information on each club to identify who the lunatics may be.
Finally, bookmakers’ odds are for promotion.
Scotimp, 9/8/2021
LINCOLN CITY
Last season: 5th in League One (lost in play-off final)
P46 W22 D11 L13 F69 A50 Pts77
Chairman: Clive Nates, 63 (appointed June 2018)
Manager: Michael Appleton, 45 (appointed September 2019)
Michael Appleton’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (4):
Goalkeepers (1):
Ethan Ross, 24 (Stockport County)
Defenders ():
Midfielders (3):
Jorge Grant, 26 (Peterborough United)
Harry Anderson, 24 (Bristol Rovers)
Zack Elbouzedi, 23 (AIK – Sweden)
Forwards ():
Players in (7):
Goalkeepers (1):
Josh Griffiths, 19 (West Bromwich Albion – season loan)
Defenders ():
Midfielders (4):
Hakeeb Adelakun, 25 (Bristol City)
Teddy Bishop, 25 (Ipswich Town)
Lasse Sørensen, 21 (Stoke City)
Lewis Fiorini, 19 (Manchester City – season loan)
Forwards (2):
Chris Maguire, 32 (Sunderland)
Dan Nlundulu, 22 (Southampton – season loan)
Average age of players out: 24
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 26
Player of the Season 2020-21: Jorge Grant, 26 (attacking midfielder) no longer with club
One to watch: Tayo Edun, 23 (left-back)
Season ticket sales: 6,400 SOLD OUT
Ground capacity: 10,700
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,000 (all seated – may be extended to 1,900)
Pre-season:
P5 W2 D0 L3 F5 A4
10/7 Reading A 0-1
13/7 Nottingham Forest XI A 1-2 Draper
20/7 Norwich City A 0-1
27/7 Scunthorpe United A 2-0 McGrandles, Bramall
31/7 Salford City A 2-0 Scully (p), Hopper
Commentary: Full Steam Ahead At The LNER
“The market is just so different from last year. We had a few factors which helped us last year. The salary cap had been introduced and people were getting their heads around that. There was a nervousness in the market about what clubs might offer. Whereas this summer, three or four clubs have gone really early and spent really big on wages. It makes players believe that if they wait long enough, they’ll get those offers. So the market is difficult at the moment. We’ve just got to be patient.” – Lincoln director of football Jez George
A first ever League One play-off final plus a Papa John’s Trophy semi-final signalled a successful season for Lincoln, although it could have been so much better. A tranche of long-term injuries to five key players plus two waves of Covid decimated the youngest squad in League One and saw the Imps drop out of the automatic promotion places as the season reached its sharp end. The play-off final was their 61st game of the season and proved one step too far at the end of the compacted schedule. Delivering such an exciting season despite a 40% cut to his playing budget has thrown the spotlight back onto manager Michael Appleton, and the Championship vultures have been circling this summer.
Off the field, Lincoln lost £889,000 in the 2019-20 accounting period, largely the reduction in income from the Covid pandemic and the early curtailment of the season. Despite that loss, the accounts show net assets of £1.73 million, indicating that Lincoln continue to be one of the better run clubs in an increasingly profligate third tier. Support from the directors is a vital factor, provided in the form of equity rather than loans, and around £1.6 million in new investment has been secured in the last three months. Season tickets sold out a month before the start of the season, giving Lincoln some financial headroom as the game seeks to return to normality.
Given the season ticket revenue, summer trading was at a premium at the LNER Stadium. Michael Appleton’s cancer diagnosis in July threatened to disrupt pre-season preparations but Lincoln have added experience in key areas. Having lost the services of star loanee Brennan Johnson and Player of the Season Jorge Grant, Lincoln moved for Danish midfielder Lasse Sørensen from Stoke while Teddy Bishop will be looking to revive his career after several years of injury-hit stagnation at Ipswich. Chris Maguire from Sunderland adds much-needed experience up front and Real Betis target Dan Nlundulu from Southampton provides the significant physical presence that Lincoln lacked last season. Winger Hakeeb Adelakun was one of the best players in the third tier before stepping up to the Championship three years ago.
Whilst becoming known in recent seasons for their progress on the pitch, Lincoln are taking great strides behind the scenes too. The Imps received a financial boost in June when American businessman Harvey Jabara and his family invested in the club, a deal that saw USA soccer legend Landon Donovan join Lincoln as strategic advisor. The pitch at LNER Stadium should be first class after the club spent several hundred thousand pounds on new drainage and a hybrid playing surface, whilst the infrastructure will be improved further next summer with the expansion of the Stacey West Stand to bring the capacity to around the 12,000-mark.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 4/1 joint-sixth favourites
Prediction: Play-offs again
MILTON KEYNES DONS
Last season: 13th
P46 W18 D11 L17 F64 A62 Pts65
Chairman/owner: Pete Winkelman, 63 (appointed March 2004)
Manager: Dean Lewington, 37 (caretaker, appointed August 2021)
Dean Lewington’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (10):
Goalkeepers (1):
Lee Nicholls, 28 (Huddersfield Town)
Defenders (1):
Matthew Sorinola, 20 (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – Belgium)
Midfielders (4):
Andrew Surman, 34 (retired)
Ben Gladwin, 29 (Swindon Town)
Scott Fraser, 26 (Ipswich Town)
Jordan Houghton, 25 (Plymouth Argyle)
Forwards (4):
Cameron Jerome, 34 (Luton Town)
Kieran Agard, 31
Joe Mason, 30 (Cavalry – Canada)
Sam Nombe, 22 (Exeter City)
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (1):
Franco Ravizzoli, 23 (Eastbourne Borough)
Defenders (2):
Aden Baldwin, 24 (Bristol City)
Tennai Watson, 24 (Reading)
Midfielders (3):
Ethan Robson, 24 (Blackpool – season loan)
Scott Twine, 22 (Swindon Town)
Josh Martin, 19 (Norwich City – season loan)
Forwards (3):
Mohamed Eisa, 27 (Peterborough United)
Max Watters, 22 (Cardiff City – season loan)
Troy Parrott, 19 (Tottenham Hotspur – season loan)
Average age of players out: 28
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 26
Player of the Season 2020-21: Dean Lewington, 37 (left-back)
One to watch: Harry Darling, 22 (centre-half)
Season ticket sales: not disclosed
Ground capacity: 30,500
Visiting supporter capacity: 3,000 (all seated – may be extended to 8,000)
Pre-season:
P6 W4 D0 L2 F15 A9
13/7 King’s Lynn Town A 3-1 Twine 2, Watters
17/7 Maidenhead United A 3-1 Trialist 2, Bird
21/7 Coventry City (1) N 2-1 Bird, Twine (at SGP)
21/7 Coventry City (2) N 5-0 Watters 2, O’Riley 2, Darling (at SGP)
24/7 Bristol City A 1-3 Bird
28/7 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR H 1-3 Freeman
Commentary: The Door Revolves Again And Again At Stadium MK
“It’s up to us to bring the right people in. It is tough to identify players to play the way that we want to play because not many, at the levels we are looking to recruit from, play this way currently. It can take a little longer for us to find the players we want for that reason.” – former MK Dons manager Russell Martin
At least no one can accuse Russell Martin of not sticking to his guns. Despite attracting ridicule last season for some suicidal passing out from the back, he appeared undaunted in his desire to implement what he curiously saw as a unique style of play. Unfortunately, he also appeared to abandon his principles at the beginning of August by leaving for Swansea after a 5-0 hammering by Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup. Interestingly, that defeat also contained three or four prime examples of what made his MK Dons such an amusing side to watch, so perhaps it is a blessing in disguise that a new manager has an opportunity to correct some obvious failings.
Before his departure for South Wales, Martin oversaw yet another large turnover of players this summer. Four players were released originally, but four players then rejected contract offers before two more were sold for fees. The majority of the ten departures were first team regulars last season, leaving MK to rebuild for the second close season running. The standout signing of the summer was Mohammed Eisa from Peterborough for a substantial fee. Eisa will depend on a solid supply line if he is to repay that investment, but the departure of the outstanding Scott Fraser to Ipswich is far from ideal in that respect. Andrew Surman appears to have retired while Ben Gladwin declined a contract offer in favour of Swindon, so a new engine room was immediately required. The energetic Scott Twine has made a name for himself in League Two in the last twelve months and now has the chance to shine at the higher level while Ethan Robson has good League One experience. Cardiff loanee Max Watters scored goals for fun during a short spell at Crawley a few years ago and will be an unknown quantity in League One.
Whether Martin had substantially improved his side by the time of his departure is open to question. The new manager, whoever that may be, still has room to manoeuvre in terms of squad size. What the new man will not have is time in which to do it as the end of the transfer window approaches.
Off the field, the financial position at MK Dons continues to deteriorate. The club lost another £3.2 million before tax in 2019-20 to take their net liabilities to £13.8 million. Fortunately, the debt is largely due to parent company Stadium MK Group Ltd and will not be called in until the club is able to repay it. Staff costs were 114% of turnover as MK tried to secure as high a finish in League One as possible, and operational costs were high at £8.4 million against a turnover of £4.6 million. The £400,000 compensation received for Russell Martin will obviously come in handy.
Against such losses, it is laudable that MK capped season ticket prices at a maximum of £230 – the equivalent price for iFollow – to attract support to Stadium MK. An attendance of 15,795 for the pre-season friendly against Spurs showed that the interest is there if a successful team can be found, and much will depend on the identity of the new manager. The club’s sporting director Liam Sweeting says they will take their time in order to find the right candidate, but time is also of the essence with the new season already under way.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 11/2
Prediction: Mid-table unless MK find an outstanding manager
MORECAMBE
Last season: 4th in League Two (promoted through play-offs)
P46 W23 D9 L14 F69 A58 Pts78
Owner: Bond Group Investments Ltd
Co-Chairmen: Graham Howse, 56; Rod Taylor, 68 (appointed November 2018)
Manager: Stephen Robinson, 46 (appointed June 2021)
Stephen Robinson‘s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (12):
Goalkeepers (1):
Mark Halstead, 30 (Torquay United)
Defenders (3):
Nathaniel Knight-Percival, 34 (Tranmere Rovers)
Harry Davis, 29 (Scunthorpe United)
Stephen Hendrie, 26
Midfielders (4):
Ben Pringle, 33 (Altrincham)
Alex Kenyon, 29 (Scunthorpe United)
Yann Songo’o, 29 (Bradford City)
John O’Sullivan, 27 (Accrington Stanley)
Forwards (4):
A-Jay Leitch-Smith, 31 (on trial with Altrincham)
Jordan Slew, 28 (FC Halifax Town)
Liam McAlinden, 27 (Wrexham)
Carlos Mendes Gomes, 22 (Luton Town)
Players in (15):
Goalkeepers (1):
Jökull Andrésson, 19 (Reading – season loan)
Defenders (5):
Anthony O’Connor, 28 (Bradford City)
Greg Leigh, 26 (Aberdeen)
Ryan Delaney, 24 (Bolton Wanderers)
Ryan Cooney, 21 (Burnley)
Jacob Mensah, 20 (Weymouth)
Midfielders (6):
Wes McDonald, 24 (Walsall)
Shane McLoughlin, 24 (AFC Wimbledon)
Adam Phillips, 23 (Burnley – season loan)
Alfie McCalmont, 21 (Leeds United – season loan)
Callum Jones, 20 (Hull City – season loan)
Josh McPake, 19 (Glasgow Rangers – season loan)
Forwards (3):
Jonathan Obika, 30 (St Mirren)
Arthur Gnahoua, 29 (Bolton Wanderers)
Jonah Ayunga, 24 (Bristol Rovers)
Average age of players out: 28
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 24
Player of the Season 2020-21: Carlos Mendes Gomes, 22 (striker) no longer with club
One to watch: Jonathan Obika, 30 (centre forward)
Season ticket sales: 1,900 (a club record)
Ground capacity: 6,476
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,689 (1,389 standing, 300 seated)
Pre-season:
P6 W2 D2 L2 F11 A6
13/7 Workington A 5-1 Stockton, McCalmont, McDonald, Obika, Trialist
17/7 Chorley A 0-1
20/7 Burnley XI A 1-2 McPake
23/7 Barnsley N 0-0 (at Loughborough University)
27/7 Kendal Town A 4-1 Ayunga 2, Phillips, Mayor
31/7 BLACKPOOL H 1-1 McDonald
Commentary: A Mountain To Climb For Minnows Morecambe
“I’m trying to get two in every position and within our budget it’s difficult, but we’ve managed to do that in a short space of time, people are starting to gel and understand.” – Morecambe manager Stephen Robinson
Morecambe’s promotion to League One through the play-offs was surely one of football’s success stories last season. No one expected Derek Adams’ collection of free transfers to challenge at the right end of the table, and indeed Sky Bet made them favourites to finish bottom. A final position of 22nd in 2019-20 certainly did not suggest a promotion challenge was in the offing, yet four successive wins in December carried Morecambe into the play-off positions where they were to remain for the rest of the season. Tranmere were beaten in the semi-final, and an extra-time penalty by the now departed Carlos Mendes Gomes gave the club promotion to the third tier for the first time in their history.
The challenge of keeping Morecambe in League One will be immense, and it was a challenge that Derek Adams was destined not to take on. Adams’ departure for Bradford in early June was far from ideal although the club moved very quickly in appointing a replacement in former Oldham and Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson. Robinson immediately commenced a drastic overhaul of the playing staff that saw many of the promotion-winning squad move on. One unintended loss was influential midfielder John O’Sullivan who declined a new contract to move to Accrington for a third time, while Yann Songo’o linked up with Derek Adams at Bradford for the fourth time in his career. Top scorer Carlos Mendes Gomes departed for Championship side Luton for an undisclosed fee, but fortunately the Shrimps have held on to his strike partner Cole Stockton.
In terms of arrivals, Robinson has signed a blend of lower league experience alongside some cheaper younger options and the full complement of loans. Nine of the new players have appeared in League One previously, the pick being Jonathan Obika who has over 300 appearances in the Championship, League One and the Scottish Championship for ten different clubs. Unfortunately, Obika will miss the first five months of the season after picking up a serious hamstring injury in a pre-season match. Clever midfielder Adam Phillips did well on loan at Accrington last season while Ryan Delaney and Arthur Gnahoua also won promotion from League Two with Bolton.
With a turnover of less than £3 million and an annual wage bill of around £2 million for their 190 staff (June 2020 accounts), Morecambe can lay genuine claim to being the smallest club in League One. The club made the offer to end all offers when it chose to refund 2020-21 season ticket holders in full and to make no increase to the price for 2021-22 despite promotion. Furthermore, the price of a season ticket for 2021-22 was published on a sliding scale, becoming cheaper according to the total number sold. The club could have done nothing more to attract people to the stadium, and the public responded with the number of season tickets doubling by the middle of July. Exactly what kind of season they will witness is open to question because Morecambe have achieved something entirely unexpected by making it to League One. Reality suggests they are facing a Herculean task to stay there.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 50/1
Prediction: Relegation
OXFORD UNITED
Last season: 6th (lost in play-off semi-final)
P46 W22 D8 L16 F77 A56 Pts74
Chairman/owner: Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth, 58 (appointed February 2018)
Manager: Karl Robinson, 40 (appointed March 2018)
Karl Robinson’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (6):
Goalkeepers ():
Defenders (3):
Josh Ruffels, 27 (Huddersfield Town)
Rob Atkinson, 23 (Bristol City)
Kyran Lofthouse, 20 (Woking)
Midfielders (1):
Sean Clare, 24 (Charlton Athletic)
Forwards (2):
Rob Hall, 27 (on trial with Gillingham)
Dylan Asonganyi, 20 (Maidenhead United)
Players in (7):
Goalkeepers ():
Defenders (3):
Jordan Thorniley, 24 (Blackpool – season loan)
Steve Seddon, 23 (Birmingham City)
Marcus McGuane, 22 (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders (3):
Ryan Williams, 27 (Portsmouth)
Gavin Whyte, 25 (Cardiff City – season loan)
Nathan Holland, 23 (West Ham United – season loan)
Forwards (1):
Billy Bodin, 29 (Preston North End)
Average age of players out: 23
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 23
Player of the Season 2020-21: Sam Long, 26 (right-back)
One to watch: Matty Taylor, 31 (centre-forward)
Season ticket sales: not disclosed (3,900 in 2020-21)
Ground capacity: 12,500
Visiting supporter capacity: up to 5,000
Pre-season:
P8 W4 D3 L1 F28 A11
16/7 Oxford City A 3-2 Agyei, Taylor, Gorrin
17/7 SALFORD CITY H 6-1 O’Donkor 3, Taylor 2, Smith
20/7 Hayes & Yeading United N 9-0 Taylor 4, Cooper 2, Elechi, Goodrham, Yaw (at Thame United)
21/7 Banbury United A 3-0 O’Donkor, Yaw, Goodrham
28/7 PETERBOROUGH UNITED (1) H 2-2 Forde, Agyei
28/7 PETERBOROUGH UNITED (2) H 2-2 Sykes (p), Winnall
31/7 Bristol Rovers A 2-3 Seddon, Henry
3/8 BARNET H 1-1 Whyte
Commentary: Another Play-Off Challenge To Come From Oxford
“There are teams in our league offering £10,000 a week for defenders and you’re thinking ‘this is ludicrous where this league is going’. We can’t get anywhere near this.” – Oxford United manager Karl Robinson
Despite enjoying an increased budget himself, Karl Robinson bemoaned the fact that some League One clubs were rumoured to be offering wages of £10,000 per week to new signings this summer. Oxford’s own financials suggest they have hardly been averse to offering good contracts in recent years, carrying net liabilities of £13.62m in the June 2020 accounts. That position can only have deteriorated significantly due to Covid losses since those accounts were published, balanced now by some big departures this summer. Defensive duo Rob Atkinson and Josh Ruffels departed to the Championship, leaving Robinson to rebuild his back line as a priority. One notable feature of the 2019-20 accounts was the figure given for profit from disposal of players – an outstanding £5.7 million, helping to turn an operating loss of £2.9 million into a £1.7 million overall profit.
Oxford’s play-off defeat in 2020 suggested another promotion bid was likely last season. However, they had a surprisingly poor start after losing at Lincoln on the opening day and it took them until the middle of December to drag themselves out of the bottom four. Seven successive wins saw them draw well clear of danger, but promotion still seemed unlikely into April. Six wins from their final seven games earned a play-off berth on goal difference, a remarkable achievement considering their disappointing start, but a poor performance at home to Blackpool in the semi-final first leg effectively ended their season.
Summer transfer business had a familiar look to it as four of Oxford’s seven signings to date have played for the club before. As ever, there are some significant names added to the squad with six of the seven arrivals coming from the Championship or above. In terms of defence, last season’s loanee Marcus McGuane has joined permanently from Nottingham Forest while Steve Seddon from Birmingham has previous League One experience with AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth. Australian international midfielder Ryan Williams returns to Oxford after seven years away, while Gavin Whyte returns on loan two years after leaving the club for Cardiff. Whyte won the League One title last season during a loan spell at Hull. Welsh international striker Billy Bodin will present a challenge for defences this season after spending four seasons in the Championship with Preston.
Oxford’s pre-season schedule was affected by twelve first team players having to self-isolate, although some big wins over a range of local non-league sides proved there were no ill-effects. Matty Taylor notched seven goals in three friendlies and will be the main strike threat alongside newcomer Bodin. Off the field, Oxford’s season ticket renewal offer included price freezes, a pandemic promise and two free cup matches.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 9/2
Prediction: Unsuccessful play-off challenge
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Last season: 18th
P46 W14 D11 L21 F53 A80 Pts53
Chairman/owner: Simon Hallett, 65 (appointed August 2018)
Manager: Ryan Lowe, 42 (appointed June 2019)
Ryan Lowe’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (12):
Goalkeepers (2):
Luke McCormick, 37 (retired)
Jack Ruddy, 23 (Linfield)
Defenders (3):
Gary Sawyer, 36 (retired)
Scott Wootton, 29
Will Aimson, 27 (Bolton Wanderers)
Midfielders (3):
Ben Reeves, 29 (Gillingham)
Lewis Macleod, 27
Jarvis Cleal, 19
Forwards (4):
Byron Moore, 32
Frank Nouble, 29 (Colchester United)
Klaidi Lolos, 20 (Torquay United)
Rubin Wilson, 19 (Bideford)
Players in (8):
Goalkeepers (1):
Callum Burton, 24 (Cambridge United)
Defenders (5):
James Wilson, 32 (Ipswich Town)
James Bolton, 26 (Portsmouth)
Dan Scarr, 26 (Walsall)
Macauley Gillesphey, 25 (Brisbane Roar – Australia)
Brendan Galloway, 25 (Luton Town)
Midfielders (2):
Jordan Houghton, 25 (Milton Keynes Dons)
Ryan Broom, 24 (Peterborough United – season loan)
Forwards ():
Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 26
Number of players in squad: 22
Player of the Season 2020-21: Joe Edwards, 30 (holding midfielder)
One to watch: Luke Jephcott, 21 (centre-forward)
Season ticket sales: 6,000
Ground capacity: 18,200
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,300 (all seated – may be increased to 2,022)
Pre-season:
P8 W3 D2 L3 F18 A7
3/7 Plymouth Parkway A 5-1 Galloway, Hardie (p), Jephcott, Camara, Rutherford
14/7 Saltash United A 7-0 Ennis 2, Hardie 2, Grant, Camara, Shirley
17/7 Bristol Rovers A 1-1 Jephcott (p)
20/7 SWANSEA CITY H 1-2 Hardie
23/7 MIDDLESBROUGH H 1-2 Gillesphey
24/7 Tavistock A 0-0
27/7 BRISTOL CITY H 0-1
31/7 Torquay United A 3-0 Ennis, Camara, Hardie
Commentary: A Necessary Change Of Business Model At Home Park
“Our goal remains financial sustainability and we are not yet there. We forecast continuing losses in the year to June 2022. We can finance those losses from the cash reserves we have built up because of our fans’ generosity, the government’s support scheme and my own cash injection.” – Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett
Having put an estimated £20 million of his own money into Plymouth within the three years of his chairmanship, it is understandable that Simon Hallett is talking about the need for sustainability. The ground has been improved with a £7.7 million refurbishment of the Mayflower Stand, and Hallett now insists that the club must start to pay its own way. The loss of £674,000 in the 2019-20 accounts was due to early curtailment of the season, reduced from a £2.4 million loss the previous year.
Plymouth have a target of being a sustainable Championship club by 2024 and are now almost debt-free after Hallett’s investments were converted to equity. The June 2020 accounts were unusual in that they included an outline plan to achieve that sustainability. Hallett has created a platform on which the club can build, and it is now all about what the team can achieve on the field.
Plymouth started last season in good form after promotion from League Two and sat on the fringes of the play-offs for a time. However, performances slipped to such an extent that points were needed from the final few games to avoid relegation. Only relegated Swindon (89) conceded more goals than Plymouth (80) while only five teams scored fewer goals. That was despite the early season impact of striker Luke Jephcott, whose form fell away so badly that he failed to score in his final 19 games. The final position of eighteenth represented the first time that Ryan Lowe had not won promotion at the end of a full season in management, and it will be interesting to see how he fares with a realistic budget and a poor end of season behind him.
Summer business began with a large number of departures in the retained list, leaving Lowe room for additions with League One quality. The main priority was to fix that generous defence, and Ipswich Town’s Player of the Season and former Imp James Wilson was an early arrival. James Bolton has spent the past four seasons in League One with Shrewsbury and latterly Portsmouth, while goalkeeper Callum Burton won promotion from League Two in May with Cambridge. Plymouth still look heavily dependent on Luke Jephcott for goals at the time of writing, with no new arrivals to balance the four strikers released in the retained list. There is still room in the squad for arrivals before the window closes, so watch this space.
Off the field, Plymouth are now able to take advantage of the commercial opportunities provided by the Mayflower Stand refurbishment. Season ticket sales have been good at 6,000, underwriting a competitive budget for the campaign.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 18/1
Prediction: Bottom eight
PORTSMOUTH
Last season: 8th
P46 W21 D9 L16 F65 A51 Pts72
Chairman/owner: Michael Eisner, 79 (appointed August 2017)
Manager: Danny Cowley, 42 (appointed March 2021)
Danny Cowley’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (13):
Goalkeepers (3):
Craig MacGillivray, 28 (Charlton Athletic)
Duncan Turnbull, 23
Taylor Seymour, 19
Defenders (3):
Charlie Daniels, 34
James Bolton, 26 (Plymouth Argyle)
Jack Whatmough, 24 (Wigan Athletic)
Midfielders (5):
Tom Naylor, 30 (Wigan Athletic)
Ryan Williams, 27 (Oxford United)
Andy Cannon, 25 (Hull City)
Bryn Morris, 25 (Burton Albion)
Ben Close, 24 (Doncaster Rovers)
Forwards (2):
Jordy Hiwula, 26 (Doncaster Rovers)
Alfie Stanley, 20 (on trial with Burnley)
Players in (10):
Goalkeepers (1):
Gavin Bazunu, 19 (Manchester City – season loan)
Defenders (4):
Kieron Freeman, 29 (Swansea City)
Clark Robertson, 27 (Rotherham United)
Connor Ogilvie, 25 (Gillingham)
Liam Vincent, 18 (Bromley)
Midfielders (2):
Shaun Williams, 34 (Millwall)
Ryan Tunnicliffe, 28 (Luton Town)
Forwards (3):
George Hirst, 22 (Leicester City – season loan)
Gassan Ahadme, 20 (Norwich City – season loan)
Jayden Reid, 20 (Birmingham City)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 24
Number of players in squad: 23
Player of the Season 2020-21: Craig MacGillivray, 28 (goalkeeper) no longer with club
One to watch: Gassan Ahadme, 20 (centre-forward)
Season ticket sales: 12,000 flexi-tickets, converting to season tickets
Ground capacity: 17,696
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,400 (all seated – may be increased to 2,800)
Pre-season:
P5 W2 D2 L1 F12 A8
7/7 Queens Park Rangers A 1-2 Marquis
10/7 Havant & Waterlooville A 5-2 Ahadme 3, Tunnicliffe, Hackett-Fairchild
20/7 Bristol City A 3-3 Ahadme 2, Francois
24/7 Luton Town A 1-1 Ahadme
31/7 PETERBOROUGH UNITED H 2-0 Tunnicliffe, Curtis
Commentary: Cowley Cunning And Disney Magic At Fratton Park
“What you have to remember is we have players in the building who are taking up a significant amount of that competitive budget. Let me tell you, any manager coming into a club will inherit players. When you talk about budgets it’s not what money you have, it’s ultimately what’s at your disposal, what money you actually have to spend.” – Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley
Whilst he may appear on paper to have lost a few key members of his squad during the summer, Danny Cowley’s comments to the Portsmouth News were far more revealing. Familiarity with Cowley’s modus operandi suggests that he will have ended the summer with exactly the squad he wants regardless of the much-publicised budget cut. All the Cowley hallmarks were there with higher wage earners departing and others under contract being managed out. Tom Naylor and Jack Whatmough departed for big-spending Wigan while Player of the Season Craig MacGillivray headed to promotion rivals Charlton. Midfielders Ben Close and Ryan Williams also joined League One rivals.
Whilst some old favourites have gone, many supporters felt an overhaul of the squad was necessary. Last season’s failure to reach the play-offs was not the expectation, and Kenny Jackett paid the penalty for a disappointing return on investment. Cowley was unable to reverse the decline in time, and Portsmouth enter their fifth season in League One with a new manager and half a new squad.
Pompey have certainly strengthened in defence with the additions of the experienced Kieron Freeman from Swansea and combative Conor Ogilvie from Gillingham, a real Cowley player if ever there was one. Championship experience has been added in midfield through Ryan Tunnicliffe and Shaun Williams who has won promotion from League One before. Striker Gassan Ahadme secured a season’s loan from parent club Norwich after scoring six goals in two-and-a-half games as a trialist, one of the more intriguing summer signings in League One. However, the unfortunate Jayden Reid will not be seen for the foreseeable future after rupturing a cruciate ligament just seven minutes into his first match after signing from Birmingham.
Cowley did not have things all his own way, being significantly outbid by League One rivals for Jayden Stockley and George Edmundson despite deals having been lined up with their agents. Cowley claimed one of those clubs offered twice the money Portsmouth could pay, illustrating the divide between even the bigger clubs in League One.
Pompey took a step forward in terms of infrastructure in June with the acquisition of the freehold for their training ground, surprisingly meaning that they will own their own training ground for the first time in the club’s history. Portsmouth have also commenced a £10 million redevelopment of Fratton Park, funded by the Eisners, that will see extensive renovations of the North and South Stands in addition to a new Milton End.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 10/3 fourth favourites
Prediction: Play-offs
Click HERE for Page Two, featuring Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, and Wycombe Wanderers.
