ROTHERHAM UNITED
Last season: 23rd in the Championship (relegated)
P46 W11 D9 L26 F44 A60 Pts42
Chairman/owner: Tony Stewart OBE, 75 (appointed May 2008)
Manager: Paul Warne, 48 (appointed April 2017)
Paul Warne’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (8):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (4):
Billy Jones, 34
Clark Robertson, 27 (Portsmouth)
Matt Olosunde, 23 (Preston North End)
Trevor Clarke, 23 (Bristol Rovers)
Midfielders (2):
Shaun MacDonald, 33 (Crewe Alexandra)
Matt Crooks, 27 (Middlesbrough)
Forwards (2):
Jamie Proctor, 29 (Port Vale)
Kyle Vassell, 28 (Cheltenham Town)
Players in (5):
Goalkeepers (1):
Josh Chapman, 18 (Sheffield United)
Defenders (1):
Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 22 (Huddersfield Town – season loan)
Midfielders (3):
Shane Ferguson, 30 (Millwall)
Ollie Rathbone, 24 (Rochdale)
Hakeem Odoffin, 23 (Hamilton Academical)
Forwards ():
Average age of players out: 28
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 25
Player of the Season 2020-21: Michael Smith, 29 (centre-forward)
One to watch: Wes Harding, 24 (right-back)
Season ticket sales: 5,100 at 29/7
Ground capacity: 12,021
Visiting supporter capacity: 2,000
Pre-season:
P7 W4 D2 L1 F22 A5
10/7 PARKGATE H 11-0 Ladapo 3, Wiles 2, Smith, Kayode (p), Wood, Miller, Sadlier, Crooks
14/7 III. Keruleti TVE – Hungary A 4-0 Lindsay, Ladapo, Kayode, OG
20/7 Rochdale A 2-2 Ogbene, Ihiekwe
21/7 Harrogate Town A 3-1 Smith 2, Ihiekwe
24/7 Grimsby Town A 1-0 Ihiekwe
27/7 NEWCASTLE UNITED H 1-1 Smith
30/7 MIDDLESBROUGH H 0-1
Commentary: Will It Be Back To The Future Again For Rotherham?
“I feel that when we came back everyone felt a little bit flat after how our season ended. I’ve got the same group of players who know what we expect out of them as people and as footballers.” – Rotherham manager Paul Warne
And so the perennial Rotherham United yo-yo returns to League One after a year away. The Millers have changed divisions in recent seasons at a rate that would leave Marty McFly blinking in wonder: too good for League One, yet unable to make the step up to the Championship. Much of that is due to the financial disparity, with the Championship cited by football analysts as the most difficult division in which to compete. Rotherham are not renowned as big spenders, so presumably they will be better placed financially than many League One rivals. Profit and loss has followed promotion and relegation in recent seasons, underpinned by a good record of player development and sales. Net liabilities stand at just £64,000 at the end of the 2019-20 accounting year, with regular injections of capital and the furlough scheme ensuring the club remains on an even keel during the pandemic.
Half a dozen squad players were released at the end of the season as Rotherham looked to reduce the wage bill after relegation. Two unwanted departures were influential midfielder Matt Crooks to Middlesbrough for a substantial fee and American right-back Matt Olosunde, who rejected a new contract in favour of remaining in the Championship with Preston. Star signing is Shane Ferguson, a Northern Ireland legend with ten years in the Premier League and Championship behind him. Ollie Rathbone had plenty of admirers despite Rochdale’s relegation last season and Hakeem Odoffin from Hamilton completes an impressive new midfield. Just five new players have arrived at New York Stadium at the time of writing, suggesting that Paul Warne has further irons in the fire yet.
Season ticket numbers remain remarkably consistent from year to year at around 6,000 despite the promotion and relegation rollercoaster. The Millers have experienced five seasons like no other under Paul Warne – relegated, promoted, relegated, promoted, relegated – and it would not usually take a betting man to determine what this season holds for them. However, there are some big names in League One with no fewer than seven former Premier League clubs aiming to rebound as quickly as possible. Spending has reached new heights at clubs with new ownership, meaning that Rotherham may not have things their own way this time. Bookmakers are already predicting that those seven former Premiership clubs will fill the top seven places in League One this season, but will Rotherham be one of the challengers all the same? If anyone knows how to escape League One, it is Paul Warne – watch this space.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 7/2 fifth favourites
Prediction: Unsuccessful play-off challenge
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Last season: 24th in the Championship (including a 6-point deduction)
P46 W12 D11 L23 F40 A61 Pts41
Chairman/owner: Dejphon Chansiri, 53 (appointed February 2015)
Manager: Darren Moore, 47 (appointed March 2021)
Darren Moore’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (13):
Goalkeepers (1):
Keiren Westwood, 36
Defenders (6):
Tom Lees, 30 (Huddersfield Town)
Julian Börner, 30 (Hannover 96 – Germany)
Moses Odubajo, 28 (Queens Park Rangers)
Joost van Aken, 27 (Zulte Waregem – Belgium)
Matt Penney, 23 (Ipswich Town)
Osaze Urhoghide, 21 (Glasgow Celtic)
Midfielders (4):
Kadeem Harris, 28 (on trial with Reading)
Joey Pelupessy, 28 (Giresunspor – Turkey)
Adam Reach, 28 (West Bromwich Albion)
Liam Shaw, 20 (Glasgow Celtic)
Forwards (2):
Jordan Rhodes, 31 (Huddersfield Town)
Elias Kachunga, 29 (Bolton Wanderers)
Players in (12):
Goalkeepers (1):
Bailey Peacock-Farrell, 24 (Burnley – season loan)
Defenders (3):
Jack Hunt, 30 (Bristol City)
Jaden Brown, 22 (Huddersfield Town)
Lewis Gibson, 21 (Everton – season loan)
Midfielders (5):
Marvin Johnson, 30 (Middlesbrough)
Lewis Wing, 26 (Middlesbrough – season loan)
George Byers, 25 (Swansea City)
Olamide Shodipo, 24 (Queens Park Rangers – season loan)
Dennis Adeniran, 22 (Everton)
Forwards (3):
Lee Gregory, 32 (Stoke City)
Florian Kamberi, 26 (St Gallen – Switzerland – season loan)
Theo Corbeanu, 19 (Wolverhampton Wanderers – season loan)
Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 26
Player of the Season 2020-21: Barry Bannan, 31 (central midfielder)
One to watch: Barry Bannan, 31 (central midfielder)
Season ticket sales: not disclosed
Ground capacity: 34,835 current safety limit
Visiting supporter capacity: 4,700
Pre-season:
P6 W3 D0 L3 F6 A8
7/7 Glasgow Celtic N 1-3 Windass (at Dragon Park, Newport)
10/7 Chester A 2-0 Windass, Adedoyin
13/7 Alfreton Town A 1-0 Green
17/7 Barnsley A 0-2
20/7 West Bromwich Albion A 0-2
27/7 Port Vale A 2-1 Iorfa, Dele-Bashiru
Commentary: Chansiri Takes A Different Course
After a couple of seasons flirting with the Championship trapdoor, Sheffield Wednesday finally dropped through it in May. The Owls may claim they were only relegated due to their six-point deduction for breaking financial rules (reduced from twelve on appeal), although practically everyone else will claim they should have been relegated twelve months earlier instead of receiving what eventually proved to be no more than a stay of execution. Whatever the facts may be, the four-time League champions are back in the third tier for the first time since 2012.
Owner and chairman Dejphon Chansiri recently stated his belief that it is impossible to challenge for promotion to the Premier League without breaching FFP rules. Chansiri also reiterated his intention to make the club sustainable after publication of the club’s 2019-20 accounts in July. A wage bill of £33.5 million and a loss of £24 million after player sales are substantial numbers for a club with a turnover of £21 million, and Wednesday have no option but to reduce that outlay further. A sum of £3 million had already been shaved off the wage bill for 2020-21, but the result was still relegation to League One.
Starting the new season with net liabilities of £32.4 million is not the soundest of platforms on which to build a promotion challenge. Delays in paying refunds on season tickets due to cashflow problems hit the headlines this summer, as did rumours of players threatening to walk out on their contracts after not being paid. The Owls began the summer under a transfer embargo, which was eventually lifted once wage arrears were paid and those overdue accounts submitted in line with EFL rules. However, Wednesday were forced to comb the market for free transfers and low-cost loans, suggesting that an immediate return to the second tier may not be a given.
As far as squad changes are concerned, several of the higher wage-earners were allowed to leave during the summer as Wednesday attempted to reduce their FFP liability. Stalwarts Kieren Westwood, Tom Lees, Adam Reach, Jordan Rhodes and Joost van Aken were released in May while Julian Börner was sold to Hamburg to raise transfer funds. Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw both rejected contract offers to join Celtic, leaving manager Moore to effectively source a new team in the space of a few short months. Star signing is probably right-back Jack Hunt who returns to Hillsborough after three years with Bristol City. Wednesday are believed to have paid a significant fee for the loan of goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell from Burnley, while midfield trio Lewis Wing, George Byers and Marvin Johnson bring extensive experience from the Championship. Striker Lee Gregory has a promotion from League One already on his cv, and there are sure to be more arrivals before the transfer window euphemistically slams shut on 31 August.
Darren Moore forecasts that Barry Bannan will rip up League One this season, and he is probably right: think Aiden McGeady, but with more pace and bite. Surprisingly, it is already twenty-one years since Wednesday’s Premier League days came to an end. Relegation to the third tier has often provided a springboard for bigger clubs to return to the top-flight, although this is Wednesday’s third visit to League One since their distant days in the Premier League. Chairman Chansiri’s new-found desire to run the club properly may restrict its ability to buy its way back to the Championship, but Sheffield Wednesday is a fish out of water in League One. One of seven, in fact.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 3/1 third favourites
Prediction: Automatic promotion
SHREWSBURY TOWN
Last season: 17th
P46 W13 D15 L18 F50 A57 Pts54
Chairman/owner: Roland Wycherley, 80 (appointed July 1996)
Manager: Steve Cotterill, 57 (appointed November 2020)
Steve Cotterill‘s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (11):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (4):
Scott Golbourne, 33 (retired)
Donald Love, 26
Ryan Sears, 22 (Grimsby Town)
Ro-Shaun Williams, 22 (Doncaster Rovers)
Midfielders (5):
David Edwards, 35 (Bala Town)
Sean Goss, 25 (on trial with Portsmouth)
Brad Walker, 25 (Port Vale)
Ryan Barnett, 21 (Solihull Moors)
James Rowland, 19 (Newtown)
Forwards (2):
Leon Clarke, 36
Curtis Main, 29 (St Mirren)
Players in (5):
Goalkeepers (1):
Marko Maroši, 27 (Coventry City)
Defenders (2):
Luke Leahy, 28 (Bristol Rovers)
George Nurse, 22 (Bristol City)
Midfielders (1):
Elliott Bennett, 32 (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards (1):
Ryan Bowman, 29 (Exeter City)
Average age of players out: 27
Average age of players in: 28
Number of players in squad: 21
Player of the Season 2020-21: Josh Vela, 27 (central midfielder)
One to watch: Luke Leahy, 28 (left-back)
Season ticket sales: 3,000
Ground capacity: 9,875
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,796 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P3 W3 D0 L0 F7 A3
13/7 AFC Telford United A 3-2 Bowman 2, Udoh
20/7 Hereford A 2-1 Whalley, Udoh
31/7 Exeter City A 2-0 Udoh 2
Commentary: Cotterill Proves That Shankly Was Wrong
“I got up one Sunday morning and I thought ‘I need to go back in’. I remember walking into the hospital, going through the doors and turning back round, looking out and thinking ‘I am going to see you again’”. – Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill
Possibly the biggest news of the summer in League One was the return of Shrews manager Steve Cotterill after his seven-month battle with long Covid. Fifty days in hospital left Cotterill literally unable to lift a kettle, yet he somehow found the strength and commitment to manage his new side remotely. The fact that Shrewsbury avoided the drop at the end of the season is testament to his powers of determination, his obvious ability as a manager and to the presence of an effective backroom team. All things considered, it may well have been the achievement of the season in League One and certainly knocks Bill Shankly’s legendary piece of idiocy into a cocked hat.
Returning to more mundane matters, Shrewsbury recently announced a loss of £723,000 for the 2019-20 financial year including three months of Covid losses. CEO Brian Caldwell has sounded an early warning regarding the accounts for 2020-21, suggesting that a season of belt-tightening and possible struggle is about to unfold at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
At the same time, manager Cotterill has initiated a minor revolution including changing the playing strip and a major overhaul of the playing staff. Eleven players departed at the end of last season, essentially the remnants of the squad he inherited in November 2020. At the time of writing, incomings have been few and far between. The standout signing appears to be Ryan Bowman, who has scored plenty of goals in the lower reaches of the EFL and the National League. Shrewsbury only managed 50 goals in 2020-21, a common feature in recent seasons. Elliott Bennett adds great experience in midfield, having spent the majority of his career in the Premier League and Championship. Interestingly, Shrewsbury appear to believe that Luke Leahy from relegated Bristol Rovers is a goalscoring defender with ten last season, but are they aware that five were penalties?
Ultimately, the squad looks short of quality and experience as it stands – Shrewsbury’s 3,000 season ticket holders will be hoping for some significant transfer activity before the window closes.
As for close season activity, Shrewsbury completed a very sparse pre-season schedule with just three friendlies, only one of which came from the EFL. Having initiated a move towards safe standing last season, Shrewsbury have recently implemented socially-distanced seating areas within the stadium to encourage supporters back to the ground.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 18/1
Prediction: Relegation
SUNDERLAND
Last season: 4th (lost in play-off semi-final)
P46 W20 D17 L9 F70 A42 Pts77
Chairman/owner: Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, 23 (appointed February 2021)
Manager: Lee Johnson, 40 (appointed December 2020)
Lee Johnson’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (9):
Goalkeepers (1):
Remi Matthews, 27 (Crystal Palace)
Defenders (2):
Conor McLaughlin, 30
Callum McFadzean, 27 (Crewe Alexandra)
Midfielders (5):
Grant Leadbitter, 35 (retired)
Chris Maguire, 32 (Lincoln City)
Max Power, 28 (Wigan Athletic)
Josh Scowen, 28 (Wycombe Wanderers)
George Dobson, 23 (Charlton Athletic)
Forwards (1):
Charlie Wyke, 28 (Wigan Athletic)
Denver Hume offered new contract
Players in (3):
Goalkeepers (0):
Defenders (1):
Callum Doyle, 17 (Manchester City – season loan)
Midfielders (2):
Corry Evans, 31 (Blackburn Rovers)
Alex Pritchard, 28 (Huddersfield Town)
Forwards ():
Average age of players out: 29
Average age of players in: 25
Number of players in squad: 21
Player of the Season 2020-21: Charlie Wyke, 28 (centre forward) no longer with club
One to watch: Callum Doyle, 17 (centre half)
Season ticket sales: not disclosed
Ground capacity: 49,000 (highest in League One)
Visiting supporter capacity: 3,000 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P6 W3 D3 L0 F11 A4
3/7 Spennymoor Town A 2-2 O’Brien, Taylor
17/7 Heart of Midlothian A 2-0 McGeady 2
21/7 York City A 1-1 Neil
24/7 Harrogate Town A 4-0 Embleton 2, Winchester, Taylor
27/7 Tranmere Rovers A 0-0
30/7 HULL CITY H 2-1 Stewart, Grigg
Commentary: A Fourth Year In League One Is Four Too Many For Sunderland
“We always want two for every position, and the plan is always to go in with probably 20 senior players and maybe four of the better younger ones to supplement that.” – Sunderland manager Lee Johnson
For a club of such magnitude, a squad of twenty senior professionals seems unlikely. Expectation is as high as ever on Wearside, although rumours of a budget cut was the last thing fans expected to hear from new billionaire owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. Quite what state Sunderland’s finances are in at any given time has been difficult to establish in recent years. Huge losses incurred during the ownership of Ellis Short were eradicated when Short either capitalised or wrote off over £170 million ahead of the sale to Stewart Donald in 2018. However, that was far from being the end of their problems.
Relegation from the Premier League to League One in successive seasons created a massive drop in income while salary liabilities reduced more slowly as players on high wages were moved out of the club. Turnover reduced from £58.7 million to £29.1 million during the 2019-20 accounting year, while operating expenses reduced more slowly during the same period from £46.3 million to £29.7 million. Wages reduced from £23.5 million to £14.5 million as television income fell drastically from £39.9 million to £17.1 million. The same accounts show net assets of just £4.2 million. At least the club knows that a return to full crowds this season can only improve the financial outlook now that the blood-letting is finally over. The final parachute payment of £15.5 million was received during 2019-20, meaning the club now has to stand on its own two feet. The sale of the club to Louis-Dreyfus in February 2021 may signify a fresh start financially for Sunderland although infrastructure costs remain very high for a League One club.
Returning to onfield matters, Sunderland notably released a lot of experience during the summer, the nine departures having an average age of almost 30. Interestingly, most of the players released have joined League One promotion rivals. Thirty-goal Charlie Wyke has joined Max Power at big-spenders Wigan, and Wyke’s goals will have to be replaced. Chris Maguire has gone to play-off opponents Lincoln, while Josh Scowen and George Dobson were snapped up by Wycombe and Charlton respectively. Topping the lot was goalkeeper Remi Matthews who was picked up by Premier League Crystal Palace.
Whatever state their finances may be in currently, Sunderland are believed to have made a number of big offers for players including £1.3 million for a Premier League player and a further £600,000 for one from the Championship. At the same time, Sunderland are rumoured to have been outbid by other League One clubs. Arrivals have been few and far between as a result although they have been of high quality. Corry Evans (brother of Jonny) has 65 caps for Northern Ireland to his name while former England U21 star Alex Pritchard is a big signing for League One; those two signings already give a new dimension to a notoriously static midfield. The most interesting signing is 17-year-old Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City who has already impressed in pre-season. Despite his claim of having twenty professionals this season, watch this space – Lee Johnson is sure to be improving his squad further ahead of the transfer deadline.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 7/4 favourites
Prediction: Play-offs
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Last season: 20th
P46 W13 D9 L24 F54 A77 Pts48
Owner: Phoenix 2021 Ltd
Chairman: Talal Mubarak Al Hammad, 33 (appointed February 2021)
Manager: Leam Richardson, 41 (appointed November 2020)
Leam Richardson’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (11):
Goalkeepers (1):
Owen Evans, 24 (Cheltenham Town)
Defenders (1):
Corey Whelan, 23 (Carlisle United)
Midfielders (6):
Dan Gardner, 31 (on trial with Doncaster Rovers)
Lee Evans, 27 (Ipswich Town)
Viv Solomon-Otabor, 25
Alex Perry, 23 (Scunthorpe United)
Chris Merrie, 22 (Tranmere Rovers)
Sean McGurk, 18 (Leeds United)
Forwards (3):
Zach Clough, 26 (Carlisle United)
Joe Dodoo, 26
Kyle Joseph, 19 (Swansea City)
Players in (10):
Goalkeepers (1):
Ben Amos, 31 (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders (2):
Jack Whatmough, 24 (Portsmouth)
Kell Watts, 21 (Newcastle United – season loan)
Midfielders (5):
Tom Naylor, 30 (Portsmouth)
Max Power, 28 (Sunderland)
Jordan Cousins, 27 (Stoke City)
Gwion Edwards, 27 (Ipswich Town)
Jordan Jones, 26 (Glasgow Rangers)
Forwards (2):
Charlie Wyke, 28 (Sunderland)
Stephen Humphrys, 23 (Rochdale)
Average age of players out: 26
Average age of players in: 27
Number of players in squad: 20
Player of the Season 2020-21: not known
One to watch: Charlie Wyke, 28 (centre-forward)
Season ticket sales: 5,800
Ground capacity: 25,133
Visiting supporter capacity: 4,800 (all seated)
Pre-season:
P5 W5 D0 L0 F11 A5
17/7 Oldham Athletic A 2-1 Edwards, Lang
20/7 AFC Fylde A 1-0 Humphrys
23/7 Bootle A 3-1 Aasgaard, Naylor, Lang
27/7 STOKE CITY H 2-1 Lang, Humphrys
30/7 PRESTON NORTH END H 3-2 Keane, Humphrys, Lang
Commentary: Back To ‘Normal’ At DW
“We’re working to a strict budget at the moment, one we believe will be competitive in this division. The ownership group, and the board, have settled on a budget for players coming in. And we believe, within that figure, we will be able to put together a competitive team for this level. Will it be one that is strong enough to compete for promotion? I think that depends on how quickly it all gels together. There’s certainly no ‘get rich quick’ approach to what we’re trying to do here.” – Wigan CEO Mal Brannigan
It is hard to believe it is only a year since former Premier Leaguers Wigan Athletic were £46 million in debt and facing the prospect of oblivion. Fans protested that theirs was a well-run club despite the truly incredible mountain of debt and prayed for another rich sugar daddy to come along and stop the slide back to non-league football. It did not sound very feasible. Any new owner – if anyone at all could be found to take the rescue on – would surely run the club along proper lines of trading and avoid repeating the errors of the recent past.
Well, a new owner was found, the debts have been eradicated with an offer of 25 pence in the pound to non-football creditors, and it appears to be business as usual under Phoenix 2021. CEO Mal Brannigan believes it will take time to recover, but rumours of eyewatering contracts emerged during the summer as Wigan hoovered up some of the best League One has to offer. Thirty-goal Charlie Wyke joined from Sunderland, citing Wigan’s ambition as his motivation rather than the large signing-on fee and alleged £10,000-per-week contract he had been offered. The most eye-catching signing of all was that of Jordan Cousins from Stoke, although Wigan should have one of the best midfields in the division with no fewer than five high quality arrivals. Jordan Jones impressed while on loan at Sunderland last season, where he played alongside another new Wigan arrival in Max Power. The supply line to newcomers Charlie Wyke (also from Sunderland) and Stephen Humphrys should see Wigan score plenty of goals. Their Achilles’ heel at this point could be the defence, which remains largely unaltered from last season at the time of writing. Wigan’s desire to sign the cream from other League One clubs even extended to their kit man, taking Naz Ali from Accrington.
There were also a number of departures to balance the arrivals including Joe Dodoo and Viv Solomon-Otabor, who eventually rejected contract offers. Given the number and nature of the arrivals, it is perhaps unsurprising that they chose to move elsewhere. Expensive high-profile signings do not guarantee success of course, and the recent history of League One is littered with moneyed big clubs who found escaping the division far tougher than they imagined.
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 4/1 joint-sixth favourites
Prediction: Unsuccessful play-off challenge unless they fix that defence
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Last season: 22nd in the Championship (relegated)
P46 W11 D10 L25 F39 A69 Pts43
Chairman/owner: Rob Couhig, 72 (appointed February 2020)
Manager: Gareth Ainsworth, 48 (appointed November 2012)
Gareth Ainsworth’s managerial record:
League games only – play-offs and cup games not included.
Players out (8):
Goalkeepers (2):
Ryan Allsop, 29 (on trial with Derby County)
Cameron Yates, 22
Defenders (2):
Darius Charles, 33 (AFC Wimbledon)
Giles Phillips, 24 (Aldershot Town)
Midfielders (2):
Fred Onyedinma, 24 (Luton Town)
Alex Pattison, 23 (Harrogate Town)
Forwards (2):
Uche Ikpeazu, 26 (Middlesbrough)
Andron Georgiou, 21
Players in (9):
Goalkeepers (2):
Adam Przybeck, 21 (Ipswich Town)
Tyla Dickinson, 20 (Queens Park Rangers)
Defenders (2):
Max Ram, 20 (Stratford Town)
Jack Wakely, 20 (Chelsea)
Midfielders (3):
Josh Scowen, 28 (Sunderland)
Sullay Kaikai, 25 (Blackpool)
Olly Pendlebury, 19 (Reading)
Forwards (2):
Sam Vokes, 31 (Stoke City)
Tjay De Barr, 21 (Lincoln Red Imps – Gibraltar)
Average age of players out: 25
Average age of players in: 23
Number of players in squad: 32
Player of the Season 2020-21: Josh Knight, 23 (centre-half)
One to watch: Sullay Kaikai, 25 (winger)
Season ticket sales: 2,100
Ground capacity: 9,448
Visiting supporter capacity: 1,800
Pre-season:
P2 W2 D0 L0 F2 A0
17/7 Stevenage N 1-0 Kashket
28/7 LEICESTER CITY H 1-0 Horgan
Commentary: Time To Regroup For Wycombe
“It’s brilliant that people might see us as a top-end League 1 or Championship side because that’s what I see this club as. Rob (Couhig, chairman) is investing into the training ground and looking at new venues, the stadium is going to be much more modern, and I’m going to have the best squad I’ve had in my tenure.” – Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth
Much has been written about Wycombe’s direct style of play, attracting criticism from football supporters in three different divisions in the space of four seasons. That is also a reflection of how successful Gareth Ainsworth’s tactics have been, although they were tagged the luckiest club in football after what many saw as an unjustified promotion to the Championship in 2020. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the EFL’s approach at that point, Wycombe’s Championship adventure is over after a solitary season, and the task is now to regroup for a possible promotion bid. A legal challenge to Derby County’s perceived reprieve from relegation has not materialised, although chairman Rob Couhig has raised the possibility of suing Derby for what he unequivocally called cheating.
On the positive side, Ainsworth believes he will have the best squad at Wycombe since he arrived in 2012. The remnants of Championship funding may help towards that, although the legacy of Championship wages has also proved a hindrance to relegated clubs. Fred Onyedinma to Luton and Uche Ikpeazu to Middlesbrough were big losses during the summer; ex-Imp Ryan Allsop was surprisingly released, although he may also be staying in the second tier with bête noire Derby.
New signings include midfielders Josh Scowen and Sullay Kaikai who both enjoyed promotion challenges in League One last season with Sunderland and Blackpool respectively. Late July saw the eye-catching signing of striker Sam Vokes, and it will be interesting to see whether life in the third tier can reignite the form that saw him win 64 caps for Wales in his prime. The rest of Ainsworth’s signings have an eclectic look about them, a fascinating collection from Stratford Town, Lincoln Red Imps and various development squads. Perhaps the most significant signature was that of 39-year-old Adebayo Akinfenwa, who will continue his 755-game career for another year.
The prize for the least challenging (and possibly the most boring) pre-season schedule must go to Wycombe for playing just two matches against League Two Stevenage and FA Cup winners Leicester. The lack of activity suggests that Ainsworth is confident that his players are capable of hitting the ground running despite an almost total lack of game time
At the bookies (Sky Bet): 9/2
Prediction: Mid-table
Acknowledgements
The information and quotations given in this article have been drawn from a multitude of sources, as follows: the websites of all 24 League One clubs; fansites; BBC; EFL; The Price of Football; Sky Bet; Companies House; and a range of local newspapers including Derby Telegraph, Doncaster Free Press, East Anglian Daily Times, Gloucestershire Live, Lincolnshire Live, Oxford Mail, Plymouth Herald, Portsmouth News, Sheffield Star, Sunderland Echo, and Wigan Today.
End
Writer: Scotimp
Vital Lincoln City – League One Season Preview 2021-22:
Part Two:https://t.co/EKdZqrE0aC#Pompey #SWFC #SAFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 13, 2021
