Stickied League 2 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[GodsGift]

Rumour on our forum that winger Cal Roberts, released from Newcastle has been invited for a trial.

I see he made a couple of appearances for Colchester last season, any good?

Bowyer wanted him on loan during his time at Blackpool so would make sense.

 

[Conker]

Would be highly foolish not to offer him a deal though, especially with that dinosaur we’ve got left.

He's 'verbally' agreed a new contract, but we have not received any sort of confirmation yet so I doubt he's signed yet.

Logan did brilliant in the play-offs but yeah I don't think we should have kept him and Bobby has to be #1

 

[leedsvaliant]

Seems Northampton have made some good signings and should be up there, but like others have said, it seems like shit or bust. All the wrong side of 30, all with injury pasts and with very little resale value should it not work out. Could storm the league or could be a disaster.

 

[F!RTHY]

Everyone talking about The Cobblers signings, but what about the rest of the squad? Didn’t they finish below mid table last season?

 

[Indian Dan]

Glad we’ve signed Knoyle. Swindon fans seem to think it’s a step down which is funny.

Well it is. How is signing for a club just escaping relegation to non league a step up? He’s a decent player for sure but it seem# a strange downwards move. If it’s money, fair enough, but If it’s ambition it’s a pile of shite.

 

[SVH]

You bloody Swindon lot. Bag of lemons for the shithole of Wiltshire. We had a poor season but look at Newport who almost got promoted after the season they almost got relegated so wind ya neck inZ

Closer to home
More money

 

[valefan16]

To be fair leaving Swindon for Cambridge is downward. Swindon are a much bigger club and far more likely to be promoted surely?

If your joining a club on ambition and potential of going higher then Swindon would be the route.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Everyone talking about The Cobblers signings, but what about the rest of the squad? Didn’t they finish below mid table last season?

True, but based on results since Keith Curle arrived we would have finished 7th and we have released or rid ourselves of 16 players of that squad. We have a couple of stalwarts and some 6 out of 10 players remaining, and quite a few ex-academy players coming through.
Pleased with what we have done so far but......don't be too quick to part with your money on us at the bookies.

 

[dedwardp]

Rumour on our forum that winger Cal Roberts, released from Newcastle has been invited for a trial.

I see he made a couple of appearances for Colchester last season, any good?

He only played about 30 minutes across a few sub appearances, so no idea.

 

[Laker]

To be fair leaving Swindon for Cambridge is downward. Swindon are a much bigger club and far more likely to be promoted surely?

If your joining a club on ambition and potential of going higher then Swindon would be the route.

He’s also quoted Calderwood as a reason for his move.

 

[Conker]

He’s also quoted Calderwood as a reason for his move.

Pretty standard new signing thing to say that thought isn’t it?

 

[AmberRich]

Pretty standard new signing thing to say that thought isn’t it?

True, but who would you rather play under Wellens or Calderwood? Calderwood does seem to bring us more pull power in the transfer market compared to his predecessor, Joe Dunne.

It's a strange move, especially as we have financial difficulties and a slightly reduced budget. If we're offering him more money then Swindon must be in a mess.

Location probably has something to do with it, better place to live and closer to home.

 

[darren gregory]

Think in lower leagues location plays a big part. You find lots of players who rarely venture north of Birmingham and vice versa players who stay around the North West.

Our keeper literally left a newly promoted side to join us because he lives in Wolverhampton and was pissed off travelling to Wycombe .

Akinde pen for example has always been Southern based until Lincoln dangled the coin.
Cambridge will be a good move for the player or he wouldn't of signed , fans see things differently

 

[F!RTHY]

True, but who would you rather play under Wellens or Calderwood? Calderwood does seem to bring us more pull power in the transfer market compared to his predecessor, Joe Dunne.

It's a strange move, especially as we have financial difficulties and a slightly reduced budget. If we're offering him more money then Swindon must be in a mess.

Location probably has something to do with it, better place to live and closer to home.

....if they are, Lord knows how they’re taking Eoin Doyle off our hands?

He’s on £5k per week, never plays down South and we signed him for £350k in the summer - so we won’t allow him to leave on a free.

 

[AR27]

....if they are, Lord knows how they’re taking Eoin Doyle off our hands?

He’s on £5k per week, never plays down South and we signed him for £350k in the summer - so we won’t allow him to leave on a free.

I'm not sure we'd be that desperate for a fee. I think if it was a case of get him off the wage bill on a free transfer or be lumbered with a high earner not in Bowyer's plans, we'll go for the former.

 

[F!RTHY]

I'm not sure we'd be that desperate for a fee. I think if it was a case of get him off the wage bill on a free transfer or be lumbered with a high earner not in Bowyer's plans, we'll go for the former.

I just can’t see us replacing his goals with someone we don’t have to pay a fee for.

Say we sign his replacement on £3k per week or less - which players are available on a free? Who will drop to L2 and do the business given this criteria? There aren’t many, if any. It’s pot luck with a loan or a has been/average striker who has a purple season.

Doyle will bag goals next season - must keep, for me.

 

[AR27]

I just can’t see us replacing his goals with someone we don’t have to pay a fee for.

Say we sign his replacement on £3k per week or less - which players are available on a free? Who will drop to L2 and do the business given this criteria? There aren’t many, if any. It’s pot luck with a loan or a has been/average striker who has a purple season.

Doyle will bag goals next season - must keep, for me.

I agree, I think he'll do well in league two but I'm not sure where he'll fit in.

Apparently Bowyer prefers 433 with a lone striker and we all know Doyle can't play that role so can we afford 5k a week on the bench? Or would it be better to sign two impact type players for that? However, if Bowyer plays two up front then I think he'll do great.

 

[Lovejoy]

Dont ruin our feel good afternoon! Is he that bad..?

Honestly he is useless, he must be Adrian Pennocks love child as he kept taking him to every club he managed. I couldn’t believe he ended up at Shrewsbury, he must have an amazing agent. He is a conf north/south standard keeper at best. He is massive but so slow, made 2 mistakes at Wembley to put us 2-0 down in the playoff final. Good luck

 

[Indian Dan]

He’s also quoted Calderwood as a reason for his move.

He wouldn’t know Colin Calderwood from Paul Hollywood. I’ve got no problem with him going - would prefer him to have stayed, tbh - I’m just questioning his ambition.

Cambridge is no nearer his home than Swindon and as he never actually lived in Swindon I doubt he’ll live in Cambridge.

Get the feeling Wellens didn’t actually want him to stay. Difficult on the PR side to be seen actively getting rid of the fans’ POY. He dropped him a few times last season. He wants a more physical presence and Knoyle is a bit lightweight and while he is sound enough defensively his crossing from good forward positions was consistently poor - Wellens bemoaned his lack of assists.

Anyway, at L2 level he’ll hardly make a difference whoever he plays for.

 

[SVH]

Koyle in an east London boy so when I say home (I mean his original routes) and signing for us will allow him to move closer to "home".

It's no secret that Wellens is a bit of a dickhead and Calderwood has had a much better playing and managing career to date than him so it's no surprise Knoyle and the other players who have signed have all quoted how well Calderwood spoke to them and were impressed with his plans.

I only saw him once last season so you'll know his attributes better than me but he has great pedigree, got your POTY and rejected a contract and despite Wellens dropping him once or twice I see he was quoted 'He's one of the best right backs in the league', so highly unlikely he wanted to get rid of him.

 

[Indian Dan]

Calderwood’s managing stats for the last 10 years are in the 20% win ratio bracket. Seems like he has preferred being a No. 2.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Calderwood’s managing stats for the last 10 years are in the 20% win ratio bracket. Seems like he has preferred being a No. 2.

Isn't Calderwood well thought of at Swindon? Ex player etc

 

[Luke Imp]

Think in lower leagues location plays a big part. You find lots of players who rarely venture north of Birmingham and vice versa players who stay around the North West.

Our keeper literally left a newly promoted side to join us because he lives in Wolverhampton and was pissed off travelling to Wycombe .

Akinde pen for example has always been Southern based until Lincoln dangled the coin.
Cambridge will be a good move for the player or he wouldn't of signed , fans see things differently

Most of it, but he spent time at Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, Alfreton and us so he's not been exclusively southern based.

 

[Indian Dan]

Isn't Calderwood well thought of at Swindon? Ex player etc

Of course he is.

 

[Agombar stool]

Are we not your dark horses once more for next season then Indian?

Its ok Vanni, you are my dark horses this season! As I have said before, I think Calderwood is a good manager and with some decent signings you could be there or thereabouts this season.

 

[Indian Dan]

Cambridge have been my dark horses these past 2 seasons.

I’ve switched to Vale for this season.

 

[Agombar stool]

Isn't Calderwood well thought of at Swindon? Ex player etc

Sure is, bit of a legend to be honest. Nickname was 'The Fridge' during his playing days. This was either because he was cool under pressure, or because people would insert cold food and drink inside him to keep froid.

 

[Agombar stool]

We are 'close' to signing a Left Back who apparently can also play on the right. Wellens has stated that he is looking to spend more of our budget at the top of the pitch so that may explain why Knoyle probably wasn't offered as good a contract at Cambridge.

 

[Big Bird]

We desperately lacked in the final third last season so I guess it makes sense to invest more into that area of the pitch. However I hope he doesn't go too far the other way and we're left with a patchwork defence.

 

[darren gregory]

Cambridge have been my dark horses these past 2 seasons.

I’ve switched to Vale for this season.

Fuck me, season over before it's began