Football Season Guide

It has been a summer of wholesale changes as manager Michael Jolley looks to make his mark at Blundell Park. He guided the club to safety last season having been appointed in March. He inherited a club in turmoil with supporters protesting against majority owner John Fenty and has allowed several experienced players to leave the club during the close season. They include defender Nathan Clarke, who missed just one league game all season. Defenders Ben Davies, and Zak Mills, midfielders James Berrett and Luke Summerfield and striker Scott Vernon have also been released whilst a whole host of loanees have returned to their parent clubs. Jolley will have been disappointed to see influential winger Siriki Dembele sign for Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee but has been proactive in the transfer market with the capture of experienced midfielder John Welsh from Preston North End and he has been made captain. He has taken gambles on young defender Akin Famewo on a season-long loan from Luton Town, midfielder Jack Hessenthaler from Gillingham and striker Louis Robles from Spanish fourth tier side San Roque De Lepe. Defender Alex Whitmore and winger Jordan Cook have plenty to prove after mixed fortunes at their previous clubs. The biggest blow of the summer is a serious knee injury suffered in training by midfielder Elliott Whitehouse and it is feared the signing from Lincoln City could miss the whole of the 2018/19 season. Jolley will be delighted to have re-signed goalkeeper James McKeown on a new three-year deal whilst defender Andrew Fox and Danny Collins have also signed on for another year. Midfield playmaker Harry Clifton signed a three-year deal before turning 20 this season and could be an integral part of the side as they look to put in a much-improved showing this time around.