Football Season Guide

Salford City will be hoping to go one better this season and achieve promotion to League One. Neil Wood’s first season in charge was a qualified success as he finally guided the Ammies into the play-offs. He succeeded where his more experienced predecessors – Graham Alexander, Richie Wellens and Gary Bowyer – failed and will feel his side were unlucky to miss out on a trip to Wembley after losing a penalty shoot-out to Stockport County. It will have felt like having salt rubbed into the wound when one of their most consistent performers – wing-back Ibou Touray – left this summer to join the Hatters. He is the only departure of note so far and Wood will be able to rely on a strong spine once more. Alex Cairns has made his loan move from Fleetwood Town permanent whilst the experienced Adrian Mariappa has signed up for another season. Wood needed some convincing over Matt Smith’s role in the team and proved to become a crucial part of the attack. Elliot Watt was without doubt their standout performer in the middle of the park. It is surprising that has been little talk of him leaving to play at a higher level during the close season. Winger Luke Bolton has been linked with a move to Barnsley following an impressive second half of the season. The Ammies don’t need to make too many additions and will be focusing on quality rather than quantity. Ossama Ashley has signed for an undisclosed fee to play alongside Watt after impressing at Colchester United. Luke Garbutt has the unenviable task of replacing Touray whilst Curtis Tilt adds strength to the back three.