Football is a beautiful sport, but as many fans know, it can also be a cruel one. That thought brought me to the recent plight of Forest Green Rovers.
Although it may seem strange that a Sheffield Wednesday fan like myself has put my thoughts to paper on a club which I have no particular opinion on as a supporter, it baffles me how two seasons ago the club I saw us thump 5-0 at home, but also stop us from getting automatic promotion back to the Championship from League 1, now out of the EFL whilst we will spend at least another season in the second division..
But that is enough about Wednesday (as much as I love the club).
Nathan, Content Editor at Semi-Professional takes a look into how back-to-back relegations took The Greens from League 1 to the Vanarama National League, and what the future may hold for the club.
It is fair to say that seeing Forest Green in this position is hardly a surprise, a side who were simply not good enough in their 2022/2023 season in League 1, who then made life extremely difficult for themselves on and off the pitch in League 2.
Going into the 22/23 campaign, if you would have told a Forest Green supporter that they would not even be considered a professional side some two years later, they would not have believed you.
A positive mood surrounded the club courtesy of their League 2 title win, which came after back-to-back playoff defeats at the hands of Tranmere Rovers and Newport County.
Unfortunately for The Greens, their fortunes took a turn for the worse in League One.
A 17-game winless run in all competitions under newly-appointed, former Premier League forward Duncan Ferguson saw the side finish rock-bottom and 20 points off the relegation zone on 27 points.
Ferguson’s time in charge foreshadowed the club’s miserable fortunes, with fans having a keen eye on the situation.
Suddenly they were back in League 2. And as if life could not get worse for everyone in and around the club, the 23/24 campaign was The Greens’ second rock-bottom finish in two season.
The side’s recent 23/24 League 2 campaign grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Player Troy Deeney took the hot seat from David Horseman after the side were in poor form, which continued under the former Watford striker.
Deeney’s time as the Rovers’ boss saw him sacked after just six games in charge following a poor run of form, a touchline ban nine days in and attacking his players in a post-match interview. The fiasco off the pitch brought even more unwanted negative attention to the club who were already in very poor form.
Steve Cotterill, Deeney’s replacement, could not help Forest Green avoid the drop after a 42-point finish. Leaving the side back in the non-league.
Today, the question lingers, how will Forest Green do in the National League?
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I think one would be foolish to view promotion in their upcoming 2024/2025 National League campaign as being ‘easy’.
With only one automatic promotion spot and one team eligible for play-off promotion, you have to take your chances.
Clubs in the National League are spending more and more money each year, with the quality of football increasing as a result.
The Greens’ efforts to re-join the football league will no doubt be different and more challenging in comparison to their last stint in the division.
Of course, spending is important. It is no secret that relegation brings big financial hits to football clubs.
With back-to-back drops however, such financial trouble grows, and the question begs as to how the club will spend after their recent plight.
With a new season to come before we know it, What will the fate of a troubled Forest Green be during their return to the National League?
Will The Greens spend and go for an instant return to the football league? Will they sit at mid-table and potentially become part of the furniture in the division? Or will the worst happen and the side slip even further down the football pyramid.?