Football Season Guide

League 2

England

League 2

2022/2023

Stevenage

In

Aaron Chapman (Goalkeeper, Gillingham); Taye Ashby-Hammond (Goalkeeper, Fulham, Season-long loan); Carl Piergianni (Defender, Oldham Athletic); Dan Sweeney (Defender, Forest Green Rovers); Kane Smith (Defender, Boreham Wood); Max Clark (Defender, Rochdale); Michael Bostwick (Defender, Burton Albion); Saxon Earley (Defender, Norwich City, Season-long loan); Dean Campbell (Midfielder, Aberdeen, Season-long loan); Danny Rose (Attacker, Northampton Town); Jordan Roberts (Attacker, Motherwell)

Out

Christy Pym (r) (Goalkeeper, Peterborough United, Loan ended); Laurie Walker (Goalkeeper, Barnet); Sacha Bastien (Goalkeeper, released); Timmy Smith (Goalkeeper, released); Bailey Clements (sp) (Defender, Ipswich Town, Loan ended); Ben Coker (r) (Defender, released); Bradley Barry (Defender, released); Luis Fernandez (Defender, released); Luke O'Neill (sp) (Defender, Ebbsfleet United); Luke Prosser (r) (Defender, released); Ross Marshall (Defender, Torquay United); Sam Dreyer (Defender, released); Scott Cuthbert (r) (Defender, Woking); Bruno Andrade (sp) (Midfielder, released); Charlie Carter (sp) (Midfielder, released); Chris Lines (r) (Midfielder, Bath City); Ed Upson (r) (Midfielder, released); Zain Westbrooke (sp) (Midfielder, Bristol Rovers, Loan ended); Harry Draper (Attacker, released); James Daly (Attacker, released)

Stevenage are pinning their hopes on experienced manager Steve Evans to avoid yet another season of struggle. Boro’ have finished in the bottom half of the League Two table in four of the last five seasons and found themselves fighting for their Football League status again when Evans replaced Alex Revell back in March following a nine-match winless run. Evans guided the club to 21st-placed finish although the appalling form of Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United played a significant part in their eventual survival. The club refuse to publish any contract details but Evans will be in charge for the forthcoming season at the very least. Somehow predictably there have several ins and outs at Broadhall Way this summer and it’s difficult to argue that any of those who have left will be missed with perhaps the exception of experienced defender Scott Cuthbert, who performed admirably but whose best days are behind him. Evans has returned to former club Gillingham for goalkeeper Aaron Chapman and he will be challenged for the No. 1 jersey by Fulham loanee Taye Ashby-Hammond. Defenders Carl Piergianni and Dan Sweeney left League Two in opposite directions last season before moving to Hertfordshire. Centre-back Kane Smith brings plenty of potential with him from nearby Boreham Wood whilst strikers Danny Rose and Jordan Roberts have plenty of experience and have a point to prove. Evans still needs to strengthen his midfield before the transfer window closes in September but they should have a better season this time around.

Target

Mid-table. Evans has the experience to avoid another relegation battle and a season of consolidation would do the club no harm.