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In around 11-12 days’ time fans will be returning through the turnstiles and 2025-26 will start the wheels moving again as the pre-season friendlies get underway.
Over the last few weeks clubs been announcing new signings or ‘retaining’ those from last season despite the fact below the top levels no paperwork can be completed before they’re available on 1st July.
Now while 80% of these will complete on that date, a figure that might be higher, the remaining amount will test the waters elsewhere or be gone before pre-season has finished.
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I fully get as do a lot of others that people want to see movement during the summer, it can be a boring time with nothing seemingly happening, but plenty is behind the screens and patience is a must.
This is in part due to social media and the ability to question your own club or debate with others as to why no movement or very little is happening compared to others in the division.
Completing deals has always been more complex at times than most would expect or realise. Agents involved wanting to get the best for their clients and of course themselves, contract length not what is wanted, relocation issues, family involvement, the list can be endless.
Some clubs will acquire their targets seemingly easily, but that can be down to just clubs or managers having that knack to persuade someone not to go elsewhere.
Some players will fancy themselves at a particular club for whatever reason, the style, the management team, friends who already play there, others who speak well of their experiences, sometimes a deal is easier to get over the line than five or six others.
Every player will want to play at the highest level they can, even those who are coming to the end of their career. They will hang on for the very last minute if they can to get a spot up the food chain.
Clubs do keep smaller squads these days despite the transfer windows from League Two upwards. That in turn has pushed players down into non-league purely from that, but also those who clubs won’t take a chance on their injury record.
What that has meant is for those of us who follow a few clubs or a few levels are now seeing players that we really shouldn’t for those clubs. That’s no disrespect to the players nor the clubs, it’s almost a treat because you know they should be the stand out player on the pitch.
Not all of it is down to that though, those who are heading towards retirement age are finding they want to give non-league the gracing of their talent before the boots are hung up for good.
It doesn’t work out for all, some struggle to adapt to the surroundings and just two evening training sessions, the need to have football as a second job whereas it was the main reason for them living almost.
Raising the quality is never a bad thing, standards are good to have and getting these guys in can be such a positive effect on any club. So, when you rock up in the next few weeks to get together with friends and family don’t be surprised to see a name or two you recognise that you never thought would be wearing your team’s colours.
