So, two in – one widely rumoured for a while, the other completely out of left field – and two out, or four to date if you add in those not retained. All of those departing go with best wishes and more. Gillesphey signed from Plymouth for an undisclosed fee in January 2024, the same day as Coventry joined us. Charlton, then with Appleton at the helm, were “thrilled” with the signing and he will for an obvious reason be added to the list of Charlton legends. Not many have scored for us at Wembley (Turner, Duffy, Mendonca, Rufus, everyone who took a penalty, Purrington, Bauer and Gillesphey if I’m right) and the list of those who scored the winner there is even shorter (Duffy, arguably Newton, Bauer and Gillesphey). 109 appearances and a decent centre-back return of eight goals, plus the fact that he was just about always available and put in a shift when called on.
Ahadme, signed in July 2024, might be at the other end of the scale in that we paid a bucketload for him (undisclosed of course) and had high hopes that he would be in tandem with Godden the spearhead of our attack. That didn’t happen, last season’s loan to Stevenage didn’t work out, and Jones’ comment as he left for Cambridge on loan that “we haven’t seen the best of Gassan yet” is something of an understatement. But he’s only 25 and even if away for all of next season would have another year left on his contract, so we hope he truly blossoms and fulfils the potential that would seem to be there, either to return to us in better shape or so that we can get some money back.
Taylor and Berry had contrasting experiences with us. We signed Taylor in July 2023 from Burton (undisclosed fee of course) and it just didn’t work out. Just 13 appearances for us and more time on loan at Northampton, he heads off to Stevenage with time still on his side. By contrast Berry was a seasoned campaigner when we picked him up after his contract with Luton expired in July 2024. With 57 games and eight goals his importance in the side which won promotion will not be forgotten. It seems that a number of youngsters have either been released or haven’t yet agreed new terms so are currently free agents, including Casey. Good luck to all of them too!
The agreement with Godden for another year is very welcome. He may shortly turn 35 but showed enough hunger, desire and ability at the end of last season to justify being retained. He is still by a distance our best operator inside the box and we all hope will be instrumental in the further development of Kelman, both for poaching skills and by showing him how to make a real pain of himself for defenders outside the box. We wait for news on whether or not Dykes will take our offer of a new deal – and nobody will blame us for feeling slightly relieved that his World Cup experience won’t have added zeroes to his price.
And welcome Mesik and Koumetio! The latter we assume will be a straight replacement for Gillesphey, the former either another option at left-side centre-back, along with Bell (assuming we stay with a back 3/5), or competition for the returning Edwards in the left-side wing-back role. Assuming we keep Jones and Ramsay, the only defensive position we are now light on is right-side wing-back. As things stand you’d assume Ramsay taking that spot with Asiimwe (if he stays) as back-up, leaving Sichenje and Burke to cover the right-side central position. I’d be happy to see Fevrier (brought back in – and please can we have no more talk that Apter might cover as wing-back. He is a real threat going forward and I hope we keep him as an impact sub, but defensively as a wing-back he was and would still be far too great a risk. Opponents are well aware of this.
That leaves no obvious spot for either of the Mitchells or, for now at least, Gough. We’ve been assuming that Mitchell(A) will be off to Plymouth or be sold to another League One outfit, and if he is he will be another going with best wishes for the future. He was supplanted by Jones as the lynchpin of the defence in the promotion season and seems the sort of player who needs to play regularly or gets rusty. He’s still only 24 and will be an asset to any League One side, with the potential to move higher. Mitchell(Z) and Gough would seem to be candidates to go out on loan.
If the defence is shaping up, the same cannot be said for the midfield, while up front it remains unclear whether we retain or replace Dykes, bring in a marque signing, or anticipate better returns than last season from those currently available to us. Returning loanees Anderson, Apter, Olaofe, Kanu and Mbick have swelled the numbers, but it’s not yet clear how we will shape up in midfield (either more of the same if it’s Docherty, Coventry and Rankin-Costello, plus Anderson, along with Carey, Knibbs and Fullah competing for the more advanced spot) or up front. Godden, Kelman, Dykes(?), Leaburn, Campbell, Olaofe, Kanu and Mbick is too many and too uncertain.
We’re all aware of the limitations and obstacles when it comes to new signings in these areas, and the higher risks involved. There’s no cause for impatience as yet, the club has credit in the bank and no doubt some rejigging will be done before we kick off against Derby on 15 August (and possibly after that date). We’re also aware that for good reasons as things stand we are ranked by most as among likely relegation candidates. They can be proved wrong just by collective efforts, as we did at the start of last season, by players with us last season improving, and by fresh signings, including loan options.
Mentally I think there’s a challenge in that the Championship next season is going to be much tougher and the chances of a surprise bid for the play-offs much reduced. Sheff Wed began last season effectively already relegated and Leicester imploded. West Ham, Burnley and Wolves are unlikely to repeat the trials and tribulations of those relegated to the Championship a year ago, while Cardiff and Bolton at least will fancy their chances of staying up. Nothing is written, everything is possible, but you have to believe everything is possible for it to perhaps become so. That’s of course for Jones and his staff to work on!
