Football Season Guide

League 2

England

League 2

2021/2022

Salford City

In

Tom King (Goalkeeper, Newport County); Zach Jeacock (Goalkeeper, Birmingham City, Season-long loan); Liam Shephard (Defender, Newport County); Josh Morris (Midfielder, Fleetwood Town); Matt Lund (Midfielder, Rochdale); Conor McAleny (Attacker, Oldham Athletic)

Out

Václav Hladký (r) (Goalkeeper, Ipswich Town); Dan Jones (Defender, Port Vale); Di’Shon Bernard (r) (Defender, Manchester United, Loan ended); Oscar Threlkeld (sp) (Defender, released); Tom Clarke (r) (Defender, Fleetwood Town); Tom James (Defender, Hibernian, Loan ended); Alex Doyle (Midfielder, released); Bruno Andrade (Midfielder, released); Darron Gibson (Midfielder, released); George Boyd (Midfielder, released); Paul Coutts (r) (Midfielder, Fleetwood Town, Loan ended); Richie Towell (r) (Midfielder, Shamrock Rovers); Robbie Gotts (r) (Midfielder, Leeds United, Loan ended); Dan Hawkins (Attacker, Finn Harps); Emmanuel Dieseruvwe (sp) (Attacker, Tranmere Rovers); James Wilson (sp) (Attacker, Port Vale); Luke Armstrong (Attacker, Harrogate Town)

Gary Bowyer is the latest man to be given the poisoned chalice of leading Salford City up the football pyramid. Reaching the Football League was just the start for the ambitious club, famously owned by members of the Manchester United Class of ’92. Moor Lane is no Old Trafford though and the first two seasons in League Two have ended in failure, with the play-offs alluding them on both occasions. The last campaign was something of a mess and Bowyer was unable to clean up after succeeding Richie Wellens as manager. He has been quick however to get rid of a whole host of players he inherited, including strikers James Wilson and Luke Armstrong. Defender Tom Clarke and midfielder Richie Towell have also moved on with several loanees returning to their parent clubs. The biggest blow has been the departure of goalkeeper Václav Hladký, who was outstanding in his one and only season at Moor Lane, and has signed for League One side Ipswich Town. Tom King has the unenviable task of replacing him following an up-and-down year at Newport County. Bowyer looks to have made good additions in full-back Liam Shephard, also from Newport County, and midfielders Josh Morris and Matt Lund, who were both playing in League One with Fleetwood Town and Rochdale last season. Striker Conor McAleny enjoyed a fruitful campaign with Oldham Athletic and could forge a potent front three alongside strikers Brandon Asante-Thomas and Ian Henderson.

Target

Automatic promotion. The Ammies will have one of the biggest budgets in the division and Bowyer will be expected to deliver a top three finish.