Gary Simpson 2013
Division: National League
Estimated Budget: Upper midtable
Ins: David Preece, Nat Brown, Bohan Dixon, Waide Fairhurst, Luke Foster, Sean Newton, Jon Nolan, Danny Rowe, Ben Tomlinson, Nick Wright, Adi Yussuf
Outs: Gomez Dali, Nicky Nicolau, Nick Draper, Vadaine Oliver, Adam Smith, Jamie Taylor
Rating at the time: 7/10
Rating with hindsight: 4/10
Okay, so we lost Jamie Taylor, which was a blow, but look at the names on this list; Ben Tomlinson, Jon Nolan, Sean Newton, Danny Rowe. These were all good players. It felt like David Holdsworth’s min cup run had given us some cash to spend, and Gary Simpson appeared to spend it wisely. The outgoings were minimal, but the incoming were eye-catching, and for the first summer in a while, there was genuine hope.
It was misplaced. Danny Rowe smashed a hat-trick in pre-season and should have been so much better for us, especially when you consider what he did afterwards, but he barely got a kick. Waide Fairhurst looked the real deal to me, helping to beat Forest Green early doors, but he never kicked on. Luke Foster came from Preston and should have bossed the level, but never did. This summer’s signings had more promise (for the level) than any other new manager’s first summer since Peter Jackson, but they delivered the same.
I can’t help but look at this group of players and wonder if attitude, not ability, was one big issue. Not all of the signings shout problem, but there are three, maybe four on there you wouldn’t want on your team in a fight. However, a few went on to play in the Football League, which means the promise was certainly evident, if not the output.
Biggest Hit
I know Ben Tomlinson blotted his copybook a bit when he left the club, but from that list of players, he was the big win for me. Sean Newton was actually solid for us, but he’s another who didn’t leave under great terms; at least Ben stayed until the end of his contract, and moved into the Football League as well. However, taking out his departure, I felt he was a real danger up top, and he had a good attitude in terms of his interaction with supporters. He was aggressive, always on the front foot and a player I thought could have gone on to better things.
Biggest Flop
This might sound harsh, but it’s Danny Rowe for me. I recall him smashing a hat-trick in pre-season somewhere, and earning rave reviews, but he never got going for City. Players like Yussuf and Nick Wright might not have had any real impact, but Rowe did; he went on to be a phenomenon for Fylde. Where was that when he played for us?