Season Preview: 2016/17

Morecambe endured a difficult campaign last time out, relying heavily on top-scorer Shaun Miller’s impressive form which saw him end the season with fifteen goals.

Although Miller’s departure has rendered Morcambe’s forward line significantly weaker, manager Jim Bentley has thus far focussed on shoring up his back four, signing centre-backs Liam Wakefield and Dean Winnard, whilst also retaining the services of former Burnley left-back Luke Conlan on a permanent basis.

In spite of the difficult spells that blighted Morecambe during last season, Bentley has taken heart from the fact that the Shrimps are renowned for hitting the ground running. As a result, he has opted to leave his pre-season preparations largely unaltered, stating that “our pre-season is set up in February, March time and its tried and tested and has done well… We’ve actually had one or two other coaches and managers ask us over the last year or so what we do to get off to such a fantastic start.”

Following their impressive 9th placed finish during the 2014/15 season, the Exiles were unable to build on their success and ended the previous campaign just one spot above the relegation zone.

Their performances have led manager Warren Feeney to overhaul his squad, with an astonishing thirteen players taking their leave from Rodney Parade. This has been offset by the arrival of eleven new faces, including ex-Arsenal youth player Mark Randall and former Exeter City captain Scot Bennett, who made 132 appearances for the Grecians between 2008 and 2015.

In spite of the massive turnover of players, Feeney has downplayed the difficulties that this might present: “You want to try and keep the core of the squad as well but you’ve got to offer them what you think they’re worth, and if they think they are better than that then they’ve got to move on.”

Whilst Sheridan’s signings lack the name recognition of those made by his predecessors, there is a quiet optimism growing in Nottinghamshire that the new crop might be better suited to the rigours of League 2 Football. As Leigh Curtis of the Nottingham Post has stated: “All the signings so far are packed with experience and combined with winners' mentalities… They all know what is going to be required to be successful at this level unlike those who arrived from the Premier League academy system, or the untried European imports.”

Plymouth Argyle



Manager: Derek Adams
Home: Home Park
2015/16: 5th
Last season’s top-scorer: Graham Carey/Jake Jervis (11)
Twitter: @Only1Argyle 

2015/16 was a stellar campaign for Plymouth Argyle who, under the leadership of Derek Adams, fought their way to the play-off final where they were ultimately vanquished by A.F.C Wimbledon.

In spite of their success, the summer transfer window started in difficult circumstances with several players opting not to renew their contracts. These losses have however been mediated by a number of exciting signings including David Goodwillie and Gary Miller, who have joined from SPL clubs Aberdeen and Partick Thistle respectively, and Latvian international Nauris Bulvitis.

With a large number of big money signings arriving at Home Park, Argyle’s Chief-Executive Martyn Starnes has suggested that Adams’ new squad might just be able to go one better than its forebear and secure promotion: “We have consistently improved the financial position of the club, and have improved the quality of the squad, and that’s been reflected in our finishing position… I think Derek has assembled, and is assembling a squad, which is capable [of gaining promotion].”