Football Season Guide

Southport

In


Jonathan Royle (mid), Wrexham), John Cofie (att), Telford), James Gray (att), Wrexham), Tyrell Belford (gk), Swindon - loan), Ross White (def), Wrexham), Neil Ashton (def), Barrow), Ryan Crump (gk), Blackburn), Ashley Grimes (att), Barrow), Chris Doyle (def), Morecambe), Keil O'Brien (def), Bury)

Out


Alex Whittle (sp)(def), York City), Adam Blakeman (r)(def), Chorley), Steven Hewitt (sp)(mid), Accrington Stanley), Matthew Challoner (r)(def), Chorley), Paul Rutherford (r)(mid), Wrexham), Max Crocombe (r)(gk), Oxford - end of loan), Mike Phenix (r)(att), Barnsley - end of loan)

Southport are once again looking to just about keep their heads above the water and maintain their status as a National League Premier outfit. They always look terribly unprepared and lacking in quality at the start of a season but fight and scrap their way out of trouble by the end. They went through three managers last season and are now hoping for stability, even if the man at the helm is barley 33 years old and just months into his first job in coaching. But Andy Bishop has started really well after taking over back in March, with the Sandgrounders still in danger of being relegated. He inspired a really good run until the end and has won the backing of the owner to oversee the fortunes of the Merseyside club on the pitch. He has been able to keep hold of the two top players from last season, veteran Gary Jones and forward Louis Almond, and that already makes the transfer window a success. The loss of Paul Rutherford to Wrexham is a disappointment but hardly a huge blow and the team looks in a decent shape at the moment. They signed a very solid left-back in Neil Ashton to bolster defensive options while Bishop is also banking on former Manchester United starlet John Cofie to realise at least some of his potential after joining as well. James Gray looked very good at Wrexham for a while last year and the striker may prove a good fit for Southport in the year ahead. The Port look weekend on goal as Ryan Crump and Tyrell Belford both look unprepared for a regular role and the very assured Max Crocombe is not around anymore. The defence has seen little change and Bishop will be hoping that the vital Josh Thompson stays fit as the other options there are not great.

Target


Will likely be near the bottom places for most of the season and, with an inexperienced manager at the helm, could well be dropping down a division this season.