Football Season Guide

It was a year of triumph and tragedy for Port Vale head coach Darrell Clarke, who lost his young daughter in February but returned to guide the Valiants to promotion in an emotional League Two play-off final at Wembley. Clarke had been in the job less than a year when his leave of absence was announced following a close family bereavement. He relied heavily on assistant Andy Crosby, who did a remarkable job to keep the side in the play-off picture. The Valiants were deserved winners at Wembley; beating Mansfield Town 3-0 to earn promotion to League One. Clarke has always been a workaholic and it’s difficult to know what the toll of the last few months will have had on him. He has been busy this summer with midfielder Jake Taylor allowed to join Morecambe for an undisclosed fee. The loss of wing-back James Gibbons was a real surprise, and his decision to join Bristol Rovers will be keenly felt. Keeping hold of centre-back Connor Hall, midfield playmaker Ben Garrity and strikers James Wilson and Jamie Proctor will be integral in staying in League One this season. At the time of writing just two additions have been made; defender Lewis Cass signing a permanent deal after his loan from Newcastle United was ended early by injury. Funso Ojo has joined from Aberdeen to bolster the midfield. It leaves Clarke with plenty of work to do before the window closes in September. He will be looking for another goalkeeper with question marks over Aidan Stone whilst a couple of new additions will be needed to strengthen the attack.