Transition(ing)

So that was that…

Pre-season 2026? Erm … Completed it mate.

This was never going to be an easy summer, it’s clear we’re a club in transition now and when have we not been in transition in the last decade and a bit?

Since that glorious day in May it feels like we’ve been in a constant state of flux as a club.

But this year’s pre-season has felt particularly difficult, the usual drama online that we haven’t signed half of the Spanish World Cup winning squad by the middle of July has given way to a mix of anger, apathy and genuine concern for our chances this season.

The incomings started fairly well, Max Power returning for his third spell after a season captaining Bradford to the play-offs last season followed by Connor Barrett a former League Two player of the season.

Akeel Higgins arrived from West Brom after a successful season with Exeter under the gaffer’s management.

Following that Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen arrived from Dunfermline and Hindolo Mustapha from Crystal Palace.

Add in to the mix and a permanent transfer for Sonny Perkins and the squad rebuilding was moving apace. Since then? Precious little – which has combined with some fair to say mixed results and performances in our friendly schedule to lead to the current malaise among the fan base.

We know that budgets are limited – even with the amount of money brought in through Sam Tickle and Harrison Bettoni, after the defeat to Grimsby Gary Caldwell was asked about incomings and although admitting we weren’t where he wanted to be yet in terms of the squad he was working towards the 1st September to make sure that there was a fully competitive squad available.

It’s been a slow-moving transfer window this summer, the late return of players from the World Cup won’t be helping matters as that will have a direct effect on us and our targets.

Peterborough’s chairman was on national radio this week saying how difficult it’s been to bring players in, they too haven’t made a signing for over a month.

Whether we like it or not this is unfortunately our reality now, gone are the days where we could go out and spend millions on a striker of the calibre of Will Grigg and yes it’s worrying times for us.

What kind of season can we expect this year? I honestly don’t know.

The squad isn’t strong enough currently but come September it could look completely different, the food chain of the pyramid will soon kick in where players move on, that is what you would hope we’re waiting for.

The club has improved in lots of ways from when the Danson family took over, our losses have been trimmed dramatically which should make us a better prospect when prospective buyers look at us. But in other ways we’ve been severely damaged by the ownership, be it intentionally or not.

Not owning our own stadium now although on a day-to-day basis doesn’t affect us that much does due to the EFL rules and the now more stringent spend to income ratio.

We aren’t where we wanted to be on the pitch and the ownership situation looks worrying off it.

It’s a strange start to the season this year with the EFL Cup taking centre stage on the opening Saturday, some managers may treat it as an extra friendly.

Others may see the opportunity for a decent pay day if they make it through to round two. Still a new season begins on Saturday, and all those worries around ownership, squad strength will be out of the window when the lads take to the pitch at Oakwell.

There have been lots of sides over the last few years with less resources than us (even in these austere times) that do well in League One.

Maybe we’ll surprise everyone this year and become one of those.

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