When Cheltenham Town jumped off the managerial merry-go-round in September and appointed Michael Duff to replace Gary Johnson many pundits felt they were taking a huge gamble.
Duff was immensely popular during his playing career for the Robins. He was a member of the Cheltenham team that famously progressed from the Southern League to League One in five glorious years between 1997 and 2002, but had no managerial experience, having spent his time since retirement at various coaching roles within the Burnley academy.
Fears the board had closed their eyes and rolled the dice escalated when Duff brought no immediate turn around in results. However, his undoubted hard work on the training ground began to pay off after Christmas, and he eventually guided the Robins to mid-table security, due mainly to an impressive run of home form that saw them go undefeated in their final ten games at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium and left fans looking forward to 2019/20 with renewed optimism.
The feel-good factor increased when Duff moved quickly to tie down several of the club’s best players on new contracts, perhaps most importantly he persuaded striker Luke Varney his future was best served with the Robins. Varney was the club’s top goalscorer in 2018/19, finding the net fourteen times after joining in September and although he’s in the autumn of his career, the thirty-six-year-old former Leeds and Ipswich forward is proving to be a handful for League Two defenders and will once again cause them problems with his intelligent running next season.
Experienced goalkeeper Scott Flinders soon followed Varney’s lead and with Alex Addai, Chris Clements and the talented Ryan Broom also penning new deals, Duff managed to keep some key players from last season and give the Robins some much-needed continuity heading into the new campaign.
The signing of Charlie Raglan following his release by Oxford United only added to the solid foundations and sense that momentum was building. The Twenty-six-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Cheltenham and was instrumental in the Robins post-Christmas upturn, playing on the right of a back three, he made nineteen impressive appearances and will once again be crucial for Duff next season.
The Robins boss also added defensive cover with the addition of twenty-one-year-old Daniel Bowry following his release by Charlton Athletic, but more eye-catching was his capture of forwards Rueben Reid and Tahvon Campbell from near-neighbour Forest Green. Reid’s had a long career and is much-travelled, but he always offers a goal threat, and if Duff can get him fit and firing, he will be a good signing. Campbell Is fast, direct and at twenty-two provides great potential for the Robins. He is much-travelled already after enjoying several loan spells away from The Hawthorns while at West Brom and he will be keen to settle and start firing as quickly as possible. Working with experienced campaigners like Reid and Varney will only help his game, and Duff will be eager to improve the exciting forward on the training pitch.
Duff also strengthened his engine room with the superb capture of former Brighton and Chelsea midfielder Rohan Ince. Ince really is a fantastic player and will add a touch of class to the Robins’ midfield. He has the ability to dominate teams in League Two and run games, pulling strings from deep positions. He is perhaps the pick of the signings, and a real coup for the club and Duff should be congratulated on persuading him to sign for the Gloucestershire outfit.
The loss of Nigel Atangana to Exeter, Kevin Dawson to Forest Green and Johnny Mullins to retirement were arguably the most notable of nine players to leave in what has been an excellent summer for the Robins. Optimism is washing around Whaddon Road for the first time since their promotion out of the National League as champions in 2015/16. Season tickets have sold well, and Duff has worked hard to reconnect the club with its supporters. He is a talented coach and several players looking to stay with the club and others wanting to sign permanently after a loan spell is a massive indicator that the dressing room at Whaddon Road is a happy and united environment.
Cheltenham showed last season that they could be a match for anyone on their day especially at home and Duff has quietly built a decent side who could be dark horses for promotion next season. The key will be to maintain their home form and add some consistency on their travels. If they can add some steel away from home, they will surprise a few people, and a play-off spot is not beyond the realms of possibility for the buoyant Robins.
