Football Season Guide

Stevenage will be relieved to be starting another season in the Football League following a disappointing 2015/16 campaign. Boro' owner Chairman Phil Wallace made a brave decision last summer not to renew the contract of manager Graham Westley despite having suffered defeat in a two-legged play-off semi-final to Southend United. He instead opted to hand rookie boss Teddy Sheringham his first role in management. It was a statement of intent and a clear change of direction and one which ended in failure. The side made a slow start to the season under Sheringham and their highest league placing of 14th would come in early September. Loan goalkeeper Jesse Joronen scored a spectacular goal from a goal-kick against Wycombe Wanderers in October but by Christmas they were battling against relegation and Sheringham was eventually sacked at the beginning of February, having won just seven of his 33 games in charge. Assistant Darren Sarll was placed in caretaker charge and a run of one defeat from their last nine games lead to an 18th place finish in the League Two table. Glenn Roeder’s appointment as a managerial advisor to Sarll in March certainly helped both men will continue in their roles next season. Boro’ have lost some key players over the summer, most notably in midfielder Chris Whelpdale and Dean Parrett, who have both left to join AFC Wimbledon. They have pulled off something of a coup with the capture of winger Jobi McAnuff from Leyton Orient and have spent a five-figure fee for striker Rowan Liburd from Reading, despite failing to hit the net in a ten-game loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers last season. Sarll will be hoping to avoid a third successive season of injury woes but it is difficult to see anything other than another season of struggle for Stevenage.