• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

and so it begins..

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Boz, I agree. Having listened to the Holmes recording, which was quite the most emotional interview I've ever heard from any sportsman, I would bet that he'll be back on loan at Rovers before the end of next season. For his sake, I hope I'm wrong, but it would not surprise me.
 

Boz

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Wonder what this love-in with ex-Mansfield players is about. Rob Taylor was hardly a positive start. Our new away kit bears more than a passing resemblance to the Stags kit too.
 
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It's Scott Davies, a keeper from Fleetwood Town. On the face of it, it's a good signing. He has Conference experience with Morecambe and Fleetwood and has played in a successful play-off final. He lost his place last season and wanted to leave the Cod Army, but he was not among the 15 players released by the club recently. I assume he moves to us on a free transfer, as it's only a one-year deal. I would expect that he will be number one choice next season with Ramsbottom and Pilling as back-up.

We now seem to be well sorted for the defence, except possibly for a specialist right-back. We remain a bit thin in midfield, especially on the flanks, and I'd like to see another experienced striker in the squad.

It's early days, but I wonder if Gary will sign anyone on a long-term loan or whether that's now against club policy. I would still expect to see a few players coming in on short-term loans.
 
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Sparky

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Seems a decent signing at this level and I too would expect him to be number 1.

In terms of loans I expect Gary like most managers would prefer his own players but the loan market is useful sometimes for a club like us. As long as we don't go overboard then I have no problem with it.
 
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Looks like another good signing. As BBTC says, we now need more strength up top and I would actually like us to bring in two more experienced strikers, as I am far from convinced that Stockton will make it, even at Conference level.

On other news, Wrexham have sold their top scorer Lewis Moult to Motherwell, which puts a dent in their prospects.
 

Boz

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Scott Davies sounds a reasonable recruit at this level. I think we've probably got the defence close to sorted, but still need bolstering elsewhere.
I'm unsure we'll get more than one more striker; with Stockton and Liam Davies as options for the bench. Wouldn't expect a squad size of more than 20, think we're limited to 5 subs now.
 

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Looks like another good signing. As BBTC says, we now need more strength up top and I would actually like us to bring in two more experienced strikers, as I am far from convinced that Stockton will make it, even at Conference level.
Think Stockton would be looking around the 10 goal mark if I'm being generous but he's still too lightweight for me. We need someone that can really get stuck in and bang in a few goals too. Hopefully, we can recruit another striker. Keeper signing looks decent. Squad coming together nicely now.
 

bigmart

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Scott Davies sounds a reasonable recruit at this level. I think we've probably got the defence close to sorted, but still need bolstering elsewhere.
I'm unsure we'll get more than one more striker; with Stockton and Liam Davies as options for the bench. Wouldn't expect a squad size of more than 20, think we're limited to 5 subs now.

Yes only 5 subs are allowed
 
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The club have just announced on Twitter that we have signed Andy Mangan. He has scored goals in our division and the one above (including a couple of painful ones against Rovers last season!) and will be a great addition in my view.
 

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I'm surprised but very pleased with this signing. He was in and out of the Shrewsbury side that got promoted but got some important goals.

I didn't think he would feature much in L1 for them but suspect he has chosen us over some L2 sides. Plus it's another ex Wrexham player!

He is a quick diminutive little player and knows where the back of the net is.
 
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I don't want to count my chickens and all that, but with the squad we are putting together I feel more positive about the season ahead than I have for many years.
 

Boz

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Decent signing given his record and presume sides above us in the pyramid would have been interested. Andy does seem a bit injury-prone however.
 

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I notice this evening we've signed striker Andy Mangan recently released by Shrewsbury. Goals to games ratio not bad particularly at Conference level but I'm a little concerned about "his requirement to carefully manage an ongoing knee injury" ( see Wikipedia item) which impacted on the number of his games last season for the Shrews. If he can stay injury free he might be a good addition but his injury record is a concern.
 

Sparky

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As Boz suggests I know shrewsbury fans rated him but there were question marks about his fitness. Time will tell.

So for front men we have Mangan, Cole & Norwood (not counting young Davies). So we need another one in I reckon
 
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I appreciate Mangan's fitness is a concern, but this is still the marquee signing of the summer for me. A player who could comfortably score goals at a much higher level than the Conference. I believe Shrewsbury offered him a contract, but we outbid them. Certainly their supporters seem pretty gutted that he has gone.

A few days ago I suggested we needed three experienced strikers, but Mangan and Norwood won't have come cheap and I doubt we will strengthen further up front now.
 

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Fantastic signing. With Mangan and Norwood up front, that is an excellent forward line at conference level. Let's hope these guys can deliver and we start seeing some goals flying in.
 
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I believe Shrewsbury offered him a contract, but we outbid them.
If what you say is true, that really is amazing. I expect the Shrews may have offered him a poorer deal because of his injury risk, but I agree it's a great deal. It's certainly the one I've hoped for. Up to now, with a few exceptions, we've gone for players who are National League level and so - at least on paper - of lesser quality than most of last season's squad. This guy would have been great to have last year. Fingers crossed he stays relatively free from injury.
 

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As well as Shrewsbury are doing, they still have a pretty small budget. The players got wage increases for promotion which left only a small amount for new players and trying to keep hold of a few more like Mangan. Think they would have liked to have kept him but just didnt have the financial muscle.
 
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