by Gulliball » 03 Jul 2017, 22:26
Paul Cox commenting that it is more competitive in the transfer market this summer, with a few of the promoted clubs (Flyde and Ebbsfleet in particular) spending big and other teams upping their spending in the hope of reaching the newly expanded play-off positions.
Anyone on here know anything about Barrow FC?
We've had a good summer on paper, but it does look like being a tougher division next season, as you won't have one of the L2 sides at the bottom now that Orient have some cash again, nor will at least two of the promoted sides we anywhere near the bottom.
The knock-on effect for us is that we have less of a safety margin if we under perform again. If there are no basket cases, and fewer minnows then the sides at the bottom of the table will be higher quality than last season and we also have to step up.
Last season we were quite safely in mid-table at the turn of the year, following which Blissett was sold and never replaced. We started to slip further and further down, lost a lot of confidence in the Sutton and Guiseley debacles, and when players like Fitzpatrick and Hodgkiss left, they were also not replaced. We ended the season with no target man, no right back and very little competition in the squad. For all the talk of GI, they didn't do what every previous TUFC owner has done, even those loathed to part with cash like Mike Bateson or those who needed to raise it from the fan's Player Fund recently, and do everything it takes to keep the club in the league. But for winning the last 3 games of the season, we would be in a regional league right now, that's how close we came - and it should have been prevented a lot earlier by stopping the slide in January-March time.
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/barrow-a ... 650d18c-ds
Cox: Barrow AFC facing increased competition in transfer market
BARROW AFC are facing increased competition as they go in pursuit of new signings for next season.
Manager Paul Cox has warned it is proving more difficult than ever to bring in recruits as their National League rivals up their spending ahead of next season.
The Bluebirds have made five signings so far this close-season – with more to follow this week – bringing in Jordan White, Bradley Bauress, Dan Jones, Asa Hall and Bedsente Gomis.
But other moves – for the likes of former Gateshead central defender Manny Smith and ex-Grimsby centre-back Shaun Pearson – have failed to come off as their rivals have come in to snatch them away.
We have lost out on some excellent players, and there are players we have released who people have taken on and are paying them absolute fortunes
In the cases of Smith and Pearson, both were snapped up by a Wrexham side who have gone on an early-summer transfer spree, which has also seen them land Forest Green Rovers midfielders Sam Wedgbury and Marcus Kelly and former Barrow winger Jack Mackreth among others.
Chester too – who have signed Paul Turnbull and Ross Hannah from the Bluebirds – have been recruiting heavily, while league newcomers such as AFC Fylde, Maidenhead United and Ebbsfleet United all have money to spend.
That has made for a tough recruitment market for Cox and his team.
“We have been very unlucky with some of the signings we have tried to make,” said Cox.
“This year, everybody seems to be pushing the boat out. I don't know if it's because there are the extra play-off places, but we have lost out on some excellent players, and there are players we have released who people have taken on and are paying them absolute fortunes.
“That's something we have had to contest with, and something we have an understanding of.
“It's not just the North West sides, some of the clubs down south are really flexing their financial muscle.”
Cox believes the increased will make for an ultra-competitive National League when the action kicks off on August 5, with teams vying to be in among the six who will make the play-off under the new structure.
The Barrow manager finds it hard to pick out sides who will be battling at the other end of the table, and said: “It all makes for what I would say is the most competitive league – probably the hardest in a number of years.
“I was asking people to name clubs who they think might get relegated from this league, and you would be really be hard pushed to name a side you think are going to get relegated.
“Maidenhead have (manager) Alan Devonshire and will probably have money to spend, Ebbsfleet have come up and will probably have one of the biggest wage bills in our league.
“Then you look at clubs like Wrexham, who probably weren't competitive last year, and who have made good signings, Chester have made good signings. It adds to what I think is going to be a very spicy league this year.”
Paul Cox commenting that it is more competitive in the transfer market this summer, with a few of the promoted clubs (Flyde and Ebbsfleet in particular) spending big and other teams upping their spending in the hope of reaching the newly expanded play-off positions.
Anyone on here know anything about Barrow FC?
We've had a good summer on paper, but it does look like being a tougher division next season, as you won't have one of the L2 sides at the bottom now that Orient have some cash again, nor will at least two of the promoted sides we anywhere near the bottom.
The knock-on effect for us is that we have less of a safety margin if we under perform again. If there are no basket cases, and fewer minnows then the sides at the bottom of the table will be higher quality than last season and we also have to step up.
Last season we were quite safely in mid-table at the turn of the year, following which Blissett was sold and never replaced. We started to slip further and further down, lost a lot of confidence in the Sutton and Guiseley debacles, and when players like Fitzpatrick and Hodgkiss left, they were also not replaced. We ended the season with no target man, no right back and very little competition in the squad. For all the talk of GI, they didn't do what every previous TUFC owner has done, even those loathed to part with cash like Mike Bateson or those who needed to raise it from the fan's Player Fund recently, and do everything it takes to keep the club in the league. But for winning the last 3 games of the season, we would be in a regional league right now, that's how close we came - and it should have been prevented a lot earlier by stopping the slide in January-March time.
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/barrow-afc/article/Cox-Barrow-AFC-facing-increased-competition-in-transfer-market-ccb1406a-9b18-4be4-b699-01339650d18c-ds
[quote]
[b]Cox: Barrow AFC facing increased competition in transfer market[/b]
BARROW AFC are facing increased competition as they go in pursuit of new signings for next season.
Manager Paul Cox has warned it is proving more difficult than ever to bring in recruits as their National League rivals up their spending ahead of next season.
The Bluebirds have made five signings so far this close-season – with more to follow this week – bringing in Jordan White, Bradley Bauress, Dan Jones, Asa Hall and Bedsente Gomis.
But other moves – for the likes of former Gateshead central defender Manny Smith and ex-Grimsby centre-back Shaun Pearson – have failed to come off as their rivals have come in to snatch them away.
We have lost out on some excellent players, and there are players we have released who people have taken on and are paying them absolute fortunes
In the cases of Smith and Pearson, both were snapped up by a Wrexham side who have gone on an early-summer transfer spree, which has also seen them land Forest Green Rovers midfielders Sam Wedgbury and Marcus Kelly and former Barrow winger Jack Mackreth among others.
Chester too – who have signed Paul Turnbull and Ross Hannah from the Bluebirds – have been recruiting heavily, while league newcomers such as AFC Fylde, Maidenhead United and Ebbsfleet United all have money to spend.
That has made for a tough recruitment market for Cox and his team.
[b]“We have been very unlucky with some of the signings we have tried to make,” said Cox.
“This year, everybody seems to be pushing the boat out. I don't know if it's because there are the extra play-off places, but we have lost out on some excellent players, and there are players we have released who people have taken on and are paying them absolute fortunes.
“That's something we have had to contest with, and something we have an understanding of.
“It's not just the North West sides, some of the clubs down south are really flexing their financial muscle.”[/b]
Cox believes the increased will make for an ultra-competitive National League when the action kicks off on August 5, with teams vying to be in among the six who will make the play-off under the new structure.
The Barrow manager finds it hard to pick out sides who will be battling at the other end of the table, and said: [b]“It all makes for what I would say is the most competitive league – probably the hardest in a number of years.
“I was asking people to name clubs who they think might get relegated from this league, and you would be really be hard pushed to name a side you think are going to get relegated.
“Maidenhead have (manager) Alan Devonshire and will probably have money to spend, Ebbsfleet have come up and will probably have one of the biggest wage bills in our league.
“Then you look at clubs like Wrexham, who probably weren't competitive last year, and who have made good signings, Chester have made good signings. It adds to what I think is going to be a very spicy league this year.”[/b]
[/quote]
