Football Season Guide

It feels like Burton Albion have been circling the drain of relegation in League One for a number of seasons now. They’re yet to fall however, with experienced manager Gary Bowyer having saved them for the past two seasons. It was a close-shave yet again but they stayed up by five points. The Brewers are one of the smallest clubs in the EFL, yet continue to fight against the odds. It was hoped the takeover by the Nordic Football Group from Ben Robinson would improve their odds when competing against some vastly-bigger clubs but they’ve made several mistakes and they could still yet pay a heavy price. The club are waiting on the recommendations of an independent regulatory commission having accepted 28 breaches of F.A. regulations concerning the use of agents during the summer of 2024, shortly after they takeover. During that window 47 players were either signed or left the club, a folly then which could mean a points deduction now that would significantly dent their hopes of survival. Despite this it seems Bowyer will continue to fight the good fight. He brings calmness and stability, which is desperately needed when the team that survived last season has already been broken up. Gone is goalkeeper Brad Collins, although as a loanee, that was expected. The entire back-three have also left with Alex Hartridge, Terence Vancooten and Udoka Godwin-Malifé moving to Plymouth Argyle, Stevenage and Reading respectively. The biggest departure however is undoubtedly striker and leading goalkeeper Jake Beesley, with a fee recouped following his sale to Bradford City. It illustrates the bind smaller clubs find themselves even with modest achievement. Bowyer is adept in the transfer market, illustrated by the loan capture of talented goalkeeper Corey Addai from Stockport County. Curtis Tilt was in a promotion push with Bradford City last season and brings plenty of experience with him. Matthew Dennis has the unenviable task of replacing Beesley’s goal after making the short move from Notts County. Hope, and therefore expectation, will fall on the shoulders of midfielder Charlie Webster, who is now fit having missed a large part of the season following ankle surgery. He's a talisman and possesses a level of individual ability above the rest of the players in the squad.