Football Season Guide

There has only been one story in town this summer with the Robins fighting to keep hold of striker and leading goalscorer Mohamed Eisa. Manager Gary Johnson’s gamble in bringing in the youngster from Greenwich Borough a year ago proved to be a spectacular success as he notched 25 goals in a breakthrough season. Eisa’s achievement was all the more impressive given the side’s struggle in the lower reaches of mid-table. Johnson’s own future had been in question, especially following the departure of a key ally in Chairman Paul Baker at the end of the last campaign, but has been given another chance to take the club forward in the hope of challenging for the play-offs. Any realistic hopes of achieving that would have relied on keeping Eisa, who has been the subject of unsuccessful bids from League One sides Peterborough United, Portsmouth and Sunderland but the club have accepted a bid from Bristol City and he will join Johnson’s son Lee at Ashton Gate. His departure completes a hat-trick of significant blows for Cheltenham Town during the close, having already lost the versatile midfielder Carl Winchester to local rivals Forest Green Rovers and midfielder Harry Pell to Colchester United, albeit having at least secured an undisclosed fee. Winger Kevin Dawson and teenage striker George Lloyd will both be hoping to build on encouraging campaigns last time out whilst Johnson will be pleased to have re-signed centre-back Will Boyle. He has brought in plenty of League Two experience in defenders Chris Hussey and Johnny Mullins and midfielder Ben Tozer whilst has taken a punt on the likes of young defender Josh Debayo, midfielders Ryan Broom and Tom Smith and winger Alex Addai. He is unlikely to discover another Eisa however and the Robins are unlikely to challenge for a play-off place.