Football Season Guide

Barrow have finally established themselves as an EFL club since returning in 2020. They were dealt an immediate blow that summer, with the man that took them up, Ian Evatt, leaving for Bolton Wanderers and endured two seasons of struggle. Last summer’s appointment of Pete Wild changed all that. Perhaps one of the most underrated managers in EFL, Wild made an immediate impact on the Bluebirds, evolving a small squad that started the season in fine style. They were unable to sustain it and ultimately missed out on a play-off place. Whilst there will have been some disappointment, Wild has been building and they can have a real go at promotion this time around. There have been some expected departures with wing-back Patrick Brough, midfielder Josh Kay and striker Josh Gordon making the jump to League One. Influential loanees Sam McClelland and Harrison Neal have also returned to their parent clubs. One of Wild strengths is recruitment, often picking up unknown gems whilst at FC Halifax Town and he will be hoping to do so again this summer. He returned to the Shay for midfielder Kian Spence, a former Middlesbrough academy graduate. Mazeed Ogungbo is an Arsenal product and showed promise during his loan with Crawley Town last season. Winger David Worrall and striker Jamie Proctor both bring bags of experience with them from Port Vale, where they were promoted from League Two in 2022. A couple more shrewd additions before the transfer window closes and this footballing outpost will be making waves again in League Two.