Football Season Guide

Tranmere suffered an agonising miss of the play-offs in their first season since relegation and will be fully determined and driven to get the job done and return to League Two this season. Gary Brabin was kept on despite the failure and he knows that the pressure is on him to deliver and he need a strong start this season. The manager identified well that the failure to score enough goals was what cost Rovers last year and he opted for a complete change of the attacking line. Established players like Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Michael Higdon have been shown the door and instead Brabin went for players of lower stature but on the back of great seasons at this level. Connor Jennings is a fine signing from Wrexham, a move that not only weakens significantly a direct rival but bring versatility and options across the attacking midfield and forward line. Andy Cook is the more typical battering ram striker and he will be determined to prove that the 50-odd goals that he had scored for Barrow in the last two seasons can be replicated at a bigger club. The most interesting and unknown of of the new additions is that of Darren Stephenson, a Jamaican wide forward who made a splash for Chorley in the division below last year, with 18 goals to his name. He could well be ready to make the step up and indeed if he does, Tranmere will have a fine player in their hands. Given that the core of the squad is already stable and looking quite impressive, with Jay Harris, Steve Jennings and Steve McNulty all still here, Tranmere look the team to beat.Yet they were unmatched in terms of squad quality last season too and managed to somehow let a certain play-off spot slot. Brabin does seem like the weak spot in all promotion project and he is the main reason why Tranmere may well miss out again.