Football Season Guide

Forest Green Rovers’ first season in the third tier of English football proved to be a step too-far. The 2021/22 League Two Champions were dealt a blow less than a week after the season ended with Head Coach Rob Edwards leaving to take over at Watford. He would end the season taking Luton Town into the Premier League. Meanwhile Ian Burchnall was named as Edwards successor but lasted barely six months in the job. He was replaced by former Everton and Scottish international Duncan Ferguson, which caught the headlines but was an abject failure. He won just one league match as the Green Devils finished bottom of League One. The decision to release Ferguson with pre-season having already begun was odd and David Horseman has been handed the task of rebuilding a demoralised squad, almost from scratch. The club is stable at least, with Dale Vince one of the most reliable, and unique, owners in the EFL. Several loanees having returned to their parent clubs as expected, however the loss of midfield duo Ben Stevenson and Dylan McGeouch are more of a blow. The latter made a positive impact in his short time in Nailsworth. Horseman inherits four new signings, and it’s not clear how much involvement he had in them. Luke Daniels is certainly an experienced goalkeeper, whilst midfielder Teddy Jenks showed plenty of promise during his loan spell at Crawley Town. The first priority for the new head coach is to bring in more players and build his squad. It’s clearly going to take time and Vince has shown patience in the past.