Excited for this Summer no matter what happens, we have a solid nucleus of players staying on for next season with a little under half the squad likely leaving. It'll be a transition between Critchley's first squad and second squad, a big task on hand, but a needed one.
A chance to usher in a fresh group of players.
Parenthesis is when their contract goes until.
Grimshaw (2025 +1)
O'Donnell (2024)
Chapman (2024)
Ekpiteta (2024)
Pennington (2025 +1)
Casey (2026 +1)
Husband (2024 +1)
Coulson (2024)
Gabriel (2025 +1)
Lyons (2026)
Connolly (2024)
Hamilton (2026)
Carey (2024 +1)
Byers (2024)
Virtue (2024)
Norburn (2025)
Morgan (2026)
Finnigan (2026 +1)
Joseph (2026)
Lavery (2024)
Rhodes (2024)
Beesley (2025 +1)
Kouassi (2026 +1)
Dembele (2024)
Apter (2027 +1)
Goalkeepers: No point trying to bring in someone new, Grimmy is here until 2026 with his +1, re-sign O'Donnell who is a capable backup. Simple.
Defenders: Casey, Hubby, Pennington is a strong CB core going into next season. I'd supplement by going for a younger player with a bit of experience at this level;
Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu would do the trick! At the wing backs, I'd make an effort to sign
Hayden Coulson on a permanent, he's been very solid and really grown into his role. If we can't get Coulson, I'd look at
Will Ferry from Cheltenham Town, young, attacking wingback whose contract expires on a team who will likely be relegated.
I think Jordan Gabriel should be sold as 1) We could easily get 500k for him to help fund help in other areas. 2) If he doesn't want to be here let him go. 3) He's injury prone, can't afford for one of our highest wage earners to only play 20 times a year. Bye bye Connolly and Marvin, you've been faithful servants of the club, but it's time to move on!
Midfield: Virtue's time is done and if there's any possibility of offloading Norburn I think we should do it... just hasn't been up to it and is a poor captain. Any fee recouped for him would be a bonus and
George Byers has been much better, who I'd like to think we have a decent shot at signing this Summer on a free! Replace Norburn's wages with Byers' and that's good business. A midfield of Morgan, Carey, Finnigan, and Byers is decent, but lacking in creativity so I'd look at bringing in
Elliott Watt from Salford City, out of contract this Summer, a deeper lying play maker who led League 2 in chances created last season and despite the drop off this year is still more than good enough to make the step up.
Forwards: Lavery it's been real mate, but you're too injury prone, thank you for your service! Beesley is a solid League 1 striker who I'd keep, Joseph is still developing but has great potential to be a 15+ goal scorer at this level, and Kouassi is a project. Between the 3 of them, at least one will come good (probably Joseph), but overall that trio is below average at this level at best and if we want to be serious Promotion contenders next year (because let's be real we're not doing it this year), we need an ace striker. Re-signing
Jordan Rhodes would be a good start, but we'd still need one more as he's getting older and it's uncertain how reliable he will be. The majority of the budget should be spent on brining in someone ace. Some of you on here might call me crazy, but the man I've gone with is none other than
Jerry Yates... we know all about his exploits at this level and he is guarenteed to bang in 20+ goals. He's out of favor at Swansea with a new manager who didn't sign him and although there are questions about how well he would fit in with Critch and our system, but his quality is undoubtable and if Sadler is really going to stick to his guns of backing Critchley he might as well go all in on the throwback to 2021! Swansea bought Yates for 2.5m, but I think if we were to offer 1.25 +incentives for goals scored/promotion that would do the trick, I think they would gladly cut their losses for that.