Football Season Guide

Dale Vince continues to be a trail-blazer as Forest Green Rovers owner after missing out on promotion again. As their play-off hopes faltered again he sacked Manager Mark Cooper after five years in charge and it worked as caretaker Jimmy Ball guided the side into the top seven. The Green Devils were desperately unlucky to lose out to Newport County in a remarkable semi-final second leg at a rain-soaked New Lawn. Having flirted with the idea of appointing a woman as manager, Vince has given the job to Rob Edwards, having been impressed with his credentials from coaching the England under-20’s. He will enjoy a honeymoon period with returning fans relieved with the departure of the unpopular Cooper. It has been a relatively quiet summer so far with the most notable departure that of striker and leading goalscorer Aaron Collins, who has opted for a move to nearby Bristol Rovers. Loan midfielder Odin Bailey’s return to parent club Birmingham City was expected but he will still be missed. Winger Regan Hendry’s move from Raith Rovers is an interesting one and he will be hoping to make an impression following a similar move made by winger Nicky Cadden a year ago. Further moves are expected and Rovers are something of an unknown quantity with Edwards now in charge. The Green Devils will be moving to a new 5,000-seat wooden eco-stadium in the next two to three years and, as long as Vince is at the helm, the future looks bright if rather unconvential.